Google Partners with Apptronik on Humanoid Robots

Hey there!

Ever find yourself getting lost in something exciting when you should be doing something else?

That was me wrapped up in reading the latest AI news last weekend while my morning coffee went cold and my phone buzzed with missed messages.

I don’t want you to make the same mistake!

So, grab your favourite drink, set aside those tasks for a moment, and let’s dive into the world of AI together.

What’s Inside Today’s Newsletter

🪰 Buzz Around AI

🪄 AI Tools

🔹 AI Learning

♨️ What’s Hot In AI

📰 AI News

Read time: 10 mins

🪰 Buzz Around AI

OpenAI’s o3 Models Are Changing the Game

OpenAI has just launched its new AI reasoning model, o3, and it’s already causing a stir.

Here’s what you should know:

• Exceptional Performance: o3 achieved an impressive 96.7% on the 2024 American Invitational Mathematics Exam.

  It’s also setting new records in programming tasks and other tests like SWE-Bench and Frontier Math.

• Two Versions: The o3 family includes the powerful full version and a lighter o3-mini, designed for more specific tasks.

• Accuracy Focused: o3 uses self-checking reasoning to reduce mistakes, especially in math, science, and coding.

  However, it’s a bit slower than traditional models without reasoning.

• Customizable Thinking Time: Users can adjust the reasoning time to low, medium, or high, depending on how complex the task is.

• Closer to AGI? OpenAI says o3 is a step toward AGI, showing strong performance in tests that mimic human learning.

The o3 model is a big leap forward, but its high energy demands and potential safety concerns remind us that cutting-edge AI has its trade-offs.

🪄 AI Tools

• Kling AI v1.6 – An update to the AI video generator with improved features.

• Gemini 2.0 Flash Thinking – Google’s free reasoning AI, competing with ChatGPT’s o1.

• Backflip AI – Turns text into 3D designs.

• tldraw computer – A natural language infinite canvas tool.

🔹AI Learning

Create a Customer Support AI Voice Agent for Your Website

ElevenLabs’ new Conversational AI Agents allow you to add a voice-powered AI agent to your website that interacts naturally with visitors.

Step-by-Step Guide:

1. Create an Account: Sign up for an ElevenLabs account and go to the Agents section.

2. Set Up the Agent: Configure your AI agent’s personality and set an initial message to greet visitors.

3. Pick or Create a Voice: Choose a pre-made voice or create a custom one for smoother interactions.

4. Customize the Widget: Adjust the appearance of the voice agent widget to match your site’s design.

5. Embed the Widget: Copy the embed code and add it to your website for integration.

Pro Tip: Run thorough tests before going live using the "Test AI agent" button. This ensures the responses match your expectations and brand tone.

♨️ What’s Hot In AI

🤖 Google Partners with Apptronik on Humanoid Robots

Google DeepMind has teamed up with Apptronik, a robotics company in Austin. They plan to combine advanced AI with robotics to create versatile humanoid robots.

Key Points:

• Apptronik’s Experience: Apptronik has worked on NASA’s Valkyrie robot and their current model, Apollo. Apollo is 5'8" and weighs 160 pounds. It’s designed for industrial tasks and can work safely with humans.

• AI from Google: The partnership will use DeepMind’s AI, including Gemini models, to improve robot performance.

• Google’s Return to Robotics: Google sold Boston Dynamics in 2017. Now, they’re returning to robotics with a focus on AI.

Why It Matters: This partnership could lead to robots that can work alongside humans. It’s a step toward practical humanoid robots.

📰 AI News

1. Home Assistant launched an open-source voice assistant for controlling lights, doors, and electronics without needing the internet.

2. According to Bloomberg, Apple is working on a doorbell camera with Face ID that could unlock doors automatically.

3. Palantir and Anduril Industries are forming a group with companies like SpaceX, OpenAI, and Scale AI to bid on U.S. government defence contracts, with deals possibly announced in January.