LSN : News : Figure AI secures over £532m for humanoid development

GoDaddy launches proprietary AI tool Airo to empower small businesses

GoDaddy Airo, US

Global – Web domain registry giant GoDaddy has unveiled its revolutionary AI platform, Airo, under the campaign banner, Power Your Future. Designed to empower small businesses, Airo streamlines the process of building an online presence by generating logos, websites, emails, social media campaigns and more based on simple descriptions. According to a press release, businesses using GoDaddy’s AI tools have seen a 28% increase in sales.

The accompanying tv and social media campaign features entrepreneurs harnessing Airo to enhance their ventures. Notable is a 30-second spot showing a woman turning her idea of ‘nocturnal animal candles’ into reality, with Airo suggesting the domain name Night-Dwellers.com along with logos and a product description for an owl-shaped candle.

Airo not only generates comprehensive email campaigns and social media calendars, but also offers beta capabilities for product catalogues and real-time sales insights through voice commands on the GoDaddy Smart Terminal point-of-sale device.

For more insights on AI, head to our Artificial Intelligence topic.

Strategic opportunity

Consider developing a proprietary AI tool that caters for the unique needs of your customer base. This personalised approach could lead to increased customer satisfaction and loyalty, setting your business apart in the market

McDonald’s takes anime inspiration to real life with WcDonald’s universe

WcDonald’s campaign by McDonald’s

Global – Fast food giant McDonald’s is bringing fans’ beloved WcDonald’s from anime fiction into reality. Since 26 February 2024, the WcDonald’s anime-inspired universe has been introduced in restaurants and beyond in over 30 global markets. This immersive experience includes a new savoury chilli WcDonald’s sauce boasting a flavourful blend of ginger, garlic, soy and chilli flakes.

Collaborating with renowned manga artist Acky Bright, McDonald’s has also introduced customised manga packaging featuring WcDonald’s crew characters. Fans can also enjoy weekly digital manga drops, accessible by scanning the packaging. In addition, McDonald’s has partnered with animation agency Studio Pierrot to produce the first official WcDonald’s anime series, consisting of four short episodes airing weekly from 26 February 2024 to 18 March 2024.

The immersive journey will culminate in the WcDonald’s Immersive Dining Experience in Los Angeles on 9–10 March, which promises a multi-sensory fusion of entertainment and cuisine, inspired by the popular isekai anime sub-genre. McDonald’s investing in WcDonald’s is an excellent example of how a brand is capitalising on the opportunities presented within its Digital Fandom Market.

Strategic opportunity

Fandom is different today; fans want to be a part of the creation of a brand identity, from working in virtual stores to creating new recipes. Consider how you can co-create experiences with them through gaming and the metaverse

Figure AI secures over £532m for humanoid development

Ameca is the AI-powered humanoid robot at the Museum of the Future, Dubai

US – Figure AI has raised £532.4m ($675m, €622.2m) to advance its development of humanoid robots. Since emerging from stealth mode in January 2023, the company, co-founded by CEO Brett Adcock in 2022, has been rapidly advancing to market. Adcock emphasises the importance of timing and assembling the right team for start-up success.

With a focus on creating autonomous, general-purpose humanoid robots to address labour shortages and global supply chain needs, Figure AI has attracted significant attention, specifically from the technology sector. The Series B funding round, which has increased the company’s value to £2bn ($2.6bn, €2.4bn), attracted investment from notable entities, including Microsoft, Nvidia and Jeff Bezos through Bezos Expeditions.

Figure AI plans to use the funding to enhance AI training, increase robot manufacturing capacity, and recruit engineers to expedite the production of units slated for the market between 2024 and 2025. As developments in AI advance rapidly, it is worth revisiting some of the ethical questions about AI raised in The Future of Responsible AI.

Strategic opportunity

How can you navigate the ethical considerations of deploying humanoid robots in various industries and ensuring responsible use?

Stat: Mental health crisis hits UK’s Gen Z workforce

Goldwin’s SS24 collection blends high performance fabrics with minimalist designs for globetrotting luxurians, Japan

UK – Research from the Resolution Foundation (RF) highlights a concerning rise in mental health difficulties among young people in the UK, affecting their ability to work. The study reveals that those in their early 20s are more likely to be out of work due to ill health than those in their early 40s, a radically different picture from that of the past. Twenty-five years ago, there was a clear pattern that the older you were, the more likely you were to be not working because of ill health.

The RF’s analysis also indicates that over a third (34%) of young individuals in this age group are grappling with common mental disorders (CMD) like depression and anxiety, a sharp increase from 2000 (24%). This mental health crisis is further intensified among women, with two out of five reporting CMD compared to a quarter of men.

‘Youth worklessness due to ill health is a real and growing trend; it is worrying that young people in their early 20s, just embarking on their adult life, are more likely to be out of work due to ill health than those in their early 40s,’ RF researchers said.

The think tank calls for increased awareness and initiatives, urging sectors with a substantial young workforce to prioritise hiring mental health-aware managers to shape tomorrow’s supportive and productive work environment, as we explored in our Work States Futures macrotrend report.

Strategic opportunity

As an employer, consider fostering a culture that prioritises mental wellbeing. Could you proactively implement mental health support programmes and resources for your employees, including counselling services, workshops and awareness campaigns?