Recent developments in AI span various sectors, from healthcare and customer service to sports and art. Synthflow AI secured $20 million in funding to expand its voice AI platform, which creates realistic AI voice agents for automated phone calls. Accel led the funding round, with participation from Atlantic Labs and Singular; the funding will support global expansion, including a new US office, and improvements to its AI Voice Operating System. In other AI news, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman and Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella discussed their partnership, acknowledging both tensions and benefits. Altman also spoke with President Trump about AI, where they discussed AI's importance, its impact on jobs, and safety concerns. Trump announced a $100 billion AI infrastructure deal backed by OpenAI, SoftBank, and Oracle in January. Google DeepMind introduced Gemini Robotics On-Device, an AI model that enables robots to operate offline, bringing Gemini 2.0's reasoning capabilities to robots locally. This system is designed for fast reactions in areas with poor connectivity. In healthcare, AI is seen as a solution to improve rural healthcare systems by addressing outdated technology and improving access to care. Commure has launched AI agents to automate healthcare tasks, such as front-office functions and patient outreach. Josh Gwyther, formerly with Google Cloud, is now CEO of Owl AI, which uses AI to judge sports, aiming to eliminate human error. Almagul Menlibayeva uses AI to reconstruct censored stories, combining traditional crafts with AI-generated videos. On-premises AI solutions are gaining traction for organizations seeking better control and security, with Teradata AI Factory offering a pre-integrated AI stack. Michigan lawmakers are considering AI safeguard bills to prevent harm and create criminal penalties for AI-related crimes. Experts are calling for a modern Marshall Plan to prepare the US for the impact of AI, including a global alliance and investments in key resources. All of these developments highlight the increasing integration of AI across diverse fields and the growing need for both innovation and responsible regulation.
Key Takeaways
- Synthflow AI raised $20 million, led by Accel, to expand its voice AI platform for automated phone calls.
- OpenAI CEO Sam Altman discussed the OpenAI/Microsoft partnership with Satya Nadella, acknowledging both tensions and benefits.
- Sam Altman spoke with President Trump about AI, including its impact on jobs and safety, after Trump announced a $100 billion AI infrastructure deal.
- Google DeepMind's Gemini Robotics On-Device allows robots to function offline, using Gemini 2.0's reasoning abilities.
- AI is being explored as a solution to improve healthcare in rural areas with limited resources.
- Commure launched AI agents to automate tasks in healthcare, such as patient outreach and billing.
- Josh Gwyther, former Head of AI at Google Cloud, became CEO of Owl AI, an AI-powered sports judging firm.
- Almagul Menlibayeva uses AI to reconstruct censored stories, combining traditional crafts with AI-generated videos.
- On-premises AI solutions, like Teradata AI Factory, offer organizations better control, security, and lower latency.
- Michigan lawmakers are considering AI safeguard bills to prevent harm and penalize AI-related crimes.
Synthflow AI gets $20M to expand voice AI platform
Synthflow AI, which makes a voice AI platform for automated phone calls, received $20 million in funding. Accel led the investment round, with Atlantic Labs and Singular also participating. The money will help Synthflow AI grow globally, open a US office, and improve its voice AI agent platform. Synthflow AI's platform helps businesses create and use natural-sounding AI voice agents for customer service and other tasks without needing to code.
Synthflow AI secures $20M to boost voice agent tech access
Synthflow AI, a company focused on voice AI for automated phone calls, has secured $20 million in Series A funding. The funding round was led by Accel, with participation from Atlantic Labs and Singular. This new funding will help Synthflow AI expand globally, including opening a US office, and improve its voice AI agent platform. Synthflow AI's no-code platform lets businesses easily create and use realistic AI voice agents for various needs.
Synthflow AI raises $20M for AI voice agents
Synthflow AI, a voice AI platform for automated phone calls, has raised $20 million in Series A funding. The funding will support global growth and improve its AI voice agent platform. Synthflow AI's no-code platform allows businesses to easily create and use natural-sounding AI voice agents. These agents can handle customer service, appointment scheduling, and lead qualification. Synthflow AI aims to make advanced voice AI accessible to more businesses.
Synthflow AI gets €17.2M for human-like AI voice agent
Synthflow AI, a Berlin-based voice AI platform, has raised €17.2 million to improve its AI voice agent. The funding round was led by Accel, with participation from Atlantic Labs and Singular. The money will help Synthflow AI expand globally, open a US office, and develop its voice AI agent platform. Synthflow AI's platform allows businesses to create realistic AI voice agents for customer service and other tasks without needing to code.
Synthflow AI raises $20M for call center AI agents
Synthflow AI, a startup creating AI voice agents for phone conversations, has raised $20 million in funding. The platform lets businesses create and use AI voice agents without coding. These agents can handle customer support and appointment scheduling. The funding will be used to open a new US office and improve the agent platform. Synthflow AI's technology uses large language models to have real-time conversations.
Synthflow AI secures $20M to advance AI voice tech
Synthflow AI, a platform for voice AI agents, has raised $20 million in Series A funding. The company's no-code platform helps businesses create and use realistic AI voice agents. These agents can handle customer support, appointment scheduling, and other tasks. The funding will help Synthflow AI expand internationally and improve its AI Voice Operating System. Accel led the funding round, with participation from Atlantic Labs and Singular.
OpenAI CEO Altman talks with Microsoft CEO Nadella
OpenAI CEO Sam Altman spoke with Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella about their partnership. Microsoft is a major investor in OpenAI. They discussed their future working relationship. Earlier reports mentioned Microsoft and OpenAI discussing the investment and Microsoft's stake in the company. Altman said there are points of tension but overall the partnership has been good for both companies.
Sam Altman talks AI with President Trump
OpenAI CEO Sam Altman said he had productive talks with President Trump about artificial intelligence. Altman believes Trump understands the importance of AI. Altman made these comments during an interview with The New York Times' tech podcast, Hard Fork. They also discussed AI's impact on jobs and safety concerns. In January, Trump announced a $100 billion AI infrastructure deal backed by OpenAI, SoftBank, and Oracle.
Google's Gemini AI lets robots think offline
Google DeepMind has created Gemini Robotics On-Device, an AI model that allows robots to function without internet. This new system brings Gemini 2.0's reasoning abilities to robots locally. It's designed for fast reactions and works in areas with poor connectivity. The model can handle complex tasks and adapt to new ones with limited data. Developers can access it through Google's trusted tester program and a software development kit.
AI offers hope for rural healthcare improvements
AI could help improve healthcare in rural areas that face challenges like limited resources and staff shortages. Industry leaders believe AI can help rural systems overcome outdated technology and improve access to care. Amar Kendale from Homeward Health and Punit Soni from Suki discussed how AI can address gaps in rural healthcare. They talked about infrastructure solutions and flexible pricing models to make AI work in smaller clinics and hospitals.
Ex-Google AI head becomes CEO of sports judging firm Owl AI
Josh Gwyther, former Head of AI at Google Cloud, is now CEO of Owl AI, a company using AI to judge sports. Owl AI was created after an experiment between the X Games and Google. The AI platform can judge sporting events, assign scores, and even act as a referee or commentator. Owl AI aims to eliminate human error in sports outcomes. The company recently raised $11 million in seed funding.
AI helps photographer reconstruct censored stories
Photographer Almagul Menlibayeva uses AI to recreate stories lost to censorship. Her work combines traditional crafts with AI-generated videos. She focuses on erased histories and traditions in Central Asia. One project, AI Realism: Qantar 2022, uses AI to create images from stories of protests in Kazakhstan that were censored. Menlibayeva sees AI as a tool to explore power, ideology, and transformation.
On-premises AI offers performance and control
While cloud computing is popular for AI, many organizations are keeping AI workloads on-premises for better control and security. On-premises AI can be more cost-effective and offer lower network latency. It also helps with compliance and security for sensitive data. Teradata AI Factory is an example of a pre-integrated AI stack that simplifies on-premises deployment. This solution provides hardware and software integration, reducing the need for custom setups.
Michigan considers AI safeguard bills to prevent harm
Michigan lawmakers are considering bills to regulate AI and prevent potential harm. The proposed Artificial Intelligence Safety and Security Transparency Act would require large AI developers to implement safety protocols. This aims to prevent risks that could cause serious harm or death. Another bill would create criminal penalties for using AI to commit crimes, such as scams. Lawmakers want to ensure AI benefits residents while managing its potential dangers.
AI urgency calls for a modern Marshall Plan
Experts suggest the US needs a plan to prepare for the impact of AI. This includes forming a global alliance with countries that share AI rules. It also involves investing in data, chips, energy, and infrastructure to support AI development. A congressional committee could monitor AI models and prepare the public for job changes. CEOs can help workers by providing AI training and creating new jobs in AI-related fields.
Commure launches AI agents for healthcare tasks
Commure, an AI and software company, has launched AI agents to automate tasks in healthcare. These agents handle front-office functions, patient outreach, and billing. They integrate with electronic health records and are designed to streamline healthcare operations. The AI assistants can schedule appointments, provide patient updates, and manage referrals. Commure offers pre-built AI agents and allows health systems to build their own.
Sources
- Voice agents specialist Synthflow AI bags $20 million in Series A funding round headed up by Accel — Retail Technology Innovation Hub
- Synthflow AI lands $20 million in funding as it looks to make voice agents technology more accessible
- Synthflow AI Raises $20M to Transform the $168B Global Conversational AI Market With Enterprise AI Voice Agents
- "Indistinguishable from a human voice": Berlin-based Synthflow AI raise €17.2 million for its AI voice agent
- Synthflow AI is bringing 'conversational' voice agents to call centers. Read the pitch deck that it used to raise $20 million.
- Synthflow AI raises $20M to transform the global conversational AI market
- OpenAI CEO Altman says he has spoken with Microsoft CEO Nadella, NYT reports
- Takeaways From Hard Fork’s Interview With OpenAI’s Sam Altman
- New Gemini AI lets humanoid robots think and act without internet
- Hype and hope for AI in rural healthcare
- Google’s ex-Head of AI becomes CEO of Owl AI, a sports judging company perfected at the X Games
- The photographer using AI to reconstruct stories lost to censorship
- Performance, compliance, and control: The on-premises advantage for AI workloads
- Michigan lawmakers consider AI safeguard bills to prevent technology from committing harm
- Behind the Curtain: AI urgency calls for a modern Marshall Plan
- Fresh off $200M raise, Commure rolls out AI agents to tackle front office tasks, patient outreach and billing