  We present the detection of neutral helium at 10833A in the atmosphere of
WASP-52b and tentative evidence of helium in the atmosphere of the grazing
WASP-177b, using high-resolution observations acquired with the NIRSPEC
instrument on the Keck II telescope. We detect excess absorption by helium in
WASP-52b's atmosphere of $3.44 \pm 0.31$% ($11\sigma$), or equivalently $66 \pm
5$ atmospheric scale heights. This absorption is centered on the planet's rest
frame ($\Delta v = 0.00 \pm 1.19$km s$^{-1}$). We model the planet's escape
using a 1D Parker wind model and calculate its mass-loss rate to be $\sim 1.4
\times 10^{11}$g s$^{-1}$, or equivalently 0.5% of its mass per Gyr. For
WASP-177b, we see evidence for red-shifted ($\Delta v = 6.02 +/- 1.88$km
s$^{-1}$) helium-like absorption of $1.28 \pm 0.29$% (equal to $23 \pm 5$
atmospheric scale heights). However, due to residual systematics in the
transmission spectrum of similar amplitude, we do not interpret this as
significant evidence for He absorption in the planet's atmosphere. Using a 1D
Parker wind model, we set a $3\sigma$ upper limit on WASP-177b's escape rate of
$7.9 \times 10^{10}$ g s$^{-1}$. Our results, taken together with recent
literature detections, suggest the tentative relation between XUV irradiation
and He I absorption amplitude may be shallower than previously suggested. Our
results highlight how metastable helium can advance our understanding of
atmospheric loss and its role in shaping the exoplanet population.
