Maybe read https://ziglang.org/ ? They list the goals:
Zig is a general-purpose programming language and toolchain for maintaining robust, optimal and reusable software.
> Is it kind of like the Kotlin of C, going for a better syntax/modern features but otherwise being very similar?
I don't think it's a general-purpose programming language at all.
Great systems language though.
Looks general purpose to me. What purposes couldn't you use Zig for? A general-purpose programming language isn't necessarily good for every purpose but it can be used. For example both Java and C are general purpose languages. Should you write an OS kernel in Java? Maybe that's unwise but people did. Should you write a web browser in C? Again unwise but people did.
Some languages aren't like this. You can't write an OS kernel in WUFFS for example and that's on purpose, that's not what WUFFS is for.