Interdisciplinary approaches

Figure shifts focus to home robotics with new Helix AI

Figure has introduced Helix, a new Vision-Language-Action (VLA) model designed to enhance the capabilities of humanoid robots in complex environments like homes.

The announcement follows the company’s decision to end its collaboration with OpenAI and highlights its growing focus on creating robots that can respond to natural language prompts and adapt to dynamic household settings.

Helix integrates visual data and language commands, enabling robots to understand tasks and execute them in real time. It demonstrates advanced object generalisation, allowing robots to handle thousands of unfamiliar household items simply through verbal instructions.

Designed to control multiple robots simultaneously, Helix can coordinate complex tasks, such as transferring items between robots and organising objects within a home.

While home robotics presents unique challenges due to unpredictable layouts and varying environments, Figure aims to overcome these hurdles through Helix’s adaptive learning capabilities.

By moving away from time-consuming manual programming, the company is working towards making humanoid robots more accessible and practical for domestic use. Although the project remains in its early stages, the Helix model represents a significant step towards bridging the gap between industrial robotics and home applications.

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Sanas raises millions to transform call centre communication

AI start-up Sanas has raised $65 million in a new funding round, valuing the company at over $500 million. The firm, founded in 2020, uses artificial intelligence to modify call centre workers’ accents in real time, aiming to reduce discrimination and improve communication. Its software preserves the speaker’s emotions and identity while adjusting phonetic patterns instantly.

The company was inspired by a call centre worker’s struggle with accent bias, leading its founders to develop a solution that enhances clarity without replacing human connection. Despite concerns that such technology may homogenise voices rather than promote acceptance of diverse accents, Sanas insists its mission is to break barriers and reduce discrimination.

With an annual revenue of $21 million and a growing client base across healthcare, logistics, and manufacturing, Sanas is rapidly expanding. The company plans to develop new AI-driven speech technologies, increase its global presence, and open an office in the Philippines, a major hub for call centres.

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Google unveils virtual AI collaborator for scientists

Google has introduced an AI tool designed to act as a virtual collaborator for biomedical researchers. Tested by Stanford University and Imperial College London, the tool helps scientists analyse large volumes of literature and generate new hypotheses. It uses advanced reasoning to streamline research processes and assist in problem-solving.

DeepMind, Google’s AI unit, has prioritised science in its innovations. The unit’s leader, Demis Hassabis, recently shared a Nobel Prize in Chemistry for groundbreaking AI technology. In an experiment addressing liver fibrosis, the AI tool proposed promising solutions, showing potential to improve expert-generated approaches over time.

The system is not intended to replace scientists but to enhance their work. Google stated that the tool could accelerate scientific advancements, offering new possibilities for tackling complex challenges. Researchers involved in the project highlighted its role in fostering collaboration, rather than diminishing it.

Experts see this development as part of a growing trend in using AI across various industries. Successes like ChatGPT have demonstrated AI’s ability to support tasks ranging from customer service to legal research.

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New Google tool helps users rethink their career paths

Google has introduced Career Dreamer, a new AI-powered tool designed to help users discover career possibilities based on their skills, education, and interests. Announced in a blog post, the experiment aims to offer personalised job exploration without the need for multiple searches across different platforms.

The tool creates a ‘career identity statement’ by analysing users’ past and present roles, education, and experiences, which can be used to refine CVs or guide interview discussions. Career Dreamer also provides a visual representation of potential career paths and allows users to collaborate with Gemini, Google’s AI assistant, to draft cover letters or explore further job ideas.

Unlike traditional job search platforms such as LinkedIn or Indeed, Career Dreamer does not link users to actual job postings. Instead, it serves as an exploratory tool to help individuals, whether students, career changers, or military veterans, identify roles that align with their backgrounds. Currently, the experiment is available only in the United States, with no confirmation on future expansion.

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New AI feature from Superhuman tackles inbox clutter

Superhuman has introduced a new AI-powered feature called Auto Label, designed to automatically categorise emails into groups such as marketing, pitches, social updates, and news. Users can also create custom labels with personalised prompts and even choose to auto-archive certain categories, reducing inbox clutter.

The company developed the tool in response to customer complaints about an increasing number of unwanted marketing and cold emails. While Gmail and Outlook offer spam filtering, Superhuman’s CEO, Rahul Vohra, said their new system aims to provide more precise classification. However, at launch, users cannot edit prompts for existing labels, meaning they must create new ones if adjustments are needed.

Superhuman is also enhancing its reminder system. The app will now automatically surface emails if a response is overdue and can draft AI-generated follow-ups in the user’s writing style. Looking ahead, the company plans to integrate personal knowledge bases, automate replies, and introduce workflow automation, making email management even more seamless.

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New app replaces paper hospital passports for better accessibility

A new app designed by patients is replacing paper hospital passports to make hospital visits more convenient. Currently in use at Derriford Hospital in Plymouth, UK, the app stores key medical details, including allergies, medications, phobias, and emergency contacts, allowing staff to access critical information quickly.

Jessica, who helped develop the app, highlighted its ease of use, saying it eliminates the need to carry a booklet and makes sharing information with medical staff much simpler.

With nearly 700 users already, there are plans to expand the app to other hospitals in south-west England, and NHS England has expressed interest in its wider rollout.

Consultant Saoirse Read noted that digitalisation ensures staff can still access patient details even if their phone is left at home. The app has been particularly beneficial for neurodivergent patients, helping staff tailor care to individual needs.

By understanding factors such as pain responses and phobias, hospital teams can create personalised care plans, making the experience less stressful for patients.

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Lawyers warned about AI misuse in court filings

Warnings about AI misuse have intensified after lawyers from Morgan & Morgan faced potential sanctions for using fake case citations in a lawsuit against Walmart.

The firm’s urgent email to over 1,000 attorneys highlighted the dangers of relying on AI tools, which can fabricate legal precedents and jeopardise professional credibility. A lawyer in the Walmart case admitted to unintentionally including AI-generated errors in court filings.

Courts have seen a rise in similar incidents, with at least seven cases involving disciplinary actions against lawyers using false AI-generated information in recent years. Prominent examples include fines and mandatory training for lawyers in Texas and New York who cited fictitious cases in legal disputes.

Legal experts warn that while AI tools can speed up legal work, they require rigorous oversight to avoid costly mistakes.

Ethics rules demand lawyers verify all case filings, regardless of AI involvement. Generative AI, such as ChatGPT, creates risks by producing fabricated data confidently, sometimes referred to as ‘hallucinations’. Experts point to a lack of AI literacy in the legal profession as the root cause, not the technology itself.

Advances in AI continue to reshape the legal landscape, with many firms adopting the technology for research and drafting. However, mistakes caused by unchecked AI use underscore the importance of understanding its limitations.

Acknowledging this issue, law schools and organisations are urging lawyers to approach AI cautiously to maintain professional standards.

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The Indian village where everyone is a YouTuber

In a small village in central India, a social media revolution is changing lives. Tulsi, once a quiet farming community, has become a hub of YouTube content creation, with over a quarter of its 4,000 residents involved in filming, editing, and acting. What started as an experiment by a few locals has grown into an industry, bringing financial stability and social change to the village.

The shift began in 2018 when Indian YouTubers Jai Varma and Gyanendra Shukla launched their channel, blending humour with social commentary. Their success inspired others, leading to the establishment of a government-funded production studio and a thriving local entertainment scene. For many, YouTube has become a full-time profession, generating new opportunities beyond agriculture. Women, previously limited by traditional roles, are now prominent creators and performers, using the platform to challenge social norms.

Tulsi’s impact extends beyond the internet, as several local talents have broken into regional cinema. Pinky Sahoo, once discouraged from pursuing acting, is now a film star, proving that digital fame can translate to the big screen. Others, like rapper Rajesh Diwar, hope to use YouTube to put their local culture on the global map. In a country where millions seek creative outlets, Tulsi is a shining example of how technology can reshape even the most remote communities.

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AI tools approved for New York Times staff

The New York Times has officially approved the use of AI tools for its editorial and product teams, allowing AI to assist with tasks such as generating social media copy, writing SEO headlines, and coding. As part of this shift, the publication has introduced an internal AI tool called Echo and outlined strict guidelines for AI use in news production.

While AI can support research, suggest edits, and help brainstorm interview questions, staff have been warned not to use it to draft or substantially revise articles, nor to input confidential source information. The paper is also exploring AI-generated voice articles and translations into other languages.

This move comes as The New York Times remains engaged in a lawsuit against OpenAI and Microsoft, accusing them of copyright violations for training generative AI on its content. Despite these legal disputes, the paper has approved AI programs such as GitHub Copilot, Google’s Vertex AI, and OpenAI’s API for select business applications.

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Robotics and AI steal the show at NBA Tech Summit

When the NBA held its first Tech Summit in 2000, few imagined it would become a cornerstone of All-Star weekend. Now, 25 years later, the summit has returned to the Bay Area, where it all began, marking a milestone in the league’s embrace of technology.

What started as a simple conversation about the future has evolved into an exclusive gathering of industry leaders, featuring discussions on AI, robotics, and the media revolution that has reshaped sports. Commissioner Adam Silver shared the stage with advanced Physical AI robots at this year’s event, showcasing how innovation continues transforming the game.

Boston Dynamics’ Spot robot dogs even appeared, launching T-shirts and entertaining the crowd. The summit also featured a high-profile panel on streaming services, with executives from Netflix, Apple, Amazon, and YouTube discussing the ongoing digital shift—a vision first championed by Mark Cuban at the inaugural summit.

Despite initial scepticism, the Tech Summit has become an essential platform where NBA owners, players, and media moguls exchange ideas on the ever-evolving landscape of sports and technology. This year’s speakers included All-Star players Victor Wembanyama and Jalen Brunson, WNBA champion Sabrina Ionescu, and the USA Basketball chairperson, Gen. Martin E. Dempsey.

Legendary broadcaster Bob Costas also sat down for a conversation with Golden State Warriors coach Steve Kerr, adding another layer of insight to the event. As Silver reflected on the summit’s past and future, he admitted that predicting the next 25 years is nearly impossible.

‘We’re featuring AI and robotics this year. Who knew?’ he said. While the Tech Summit continues to evolve, one thing remains certain—it will always be a space to explore the next big thing in basketball and beyond.

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