Former Uber Founder Unveils New Venture Focused on AI-Powered Automation
Former Uber co-founder and entrepreneur Travis Kalanick has officially unveiled Atoms, a new robotics company focused on transforming industrial productivity through specialized artificial intelligence-powered machines.
The launch marks Kalanick’s return to the technology startup spotlight with a venture aimed at solving real-world challenges in sectors such as mining, transportation and food production. Rather than pursuing general-purpose humanoid robots, Atoms is taking a more targeted approach by building robots specifically designed to perform defined industrial tasks efficiently and reliably.
A Different Vision for Robotics
Atoms is built on the belief that purpose-built robots will deliver greater commercial value than humanoid robots attempting to replicate every aspect of human movement.
Kalanick argues that businesses need machines engineered to excel at specific jobs rather than robots capable of performing countless unrelated tasks. This strategy positions Atoms to serve industries facing labour shortages, rising operational costs and increasing demand for automation.
The company describes these systems as “gainfully employed robots”—machines designed to generate measurable productivity improvements in demanding industrial environments.
Three Core Business Divisions
To address multiple industries simultaneously, Atoms has been structured into three specialist divisions:
- Atoms Food, which develops robotic infrastructure and automation solutions for the food industry.
- Atoms Mining, focused on increasing productivity and efficiency in mining operations.
- Atoms Transport, dedicated to creating robotic mobility platforms and transportation technologies.
Together, these divisions reflect a strategy centred on practical applications where robotics can deliver immediate economic benefits.
Building on Previous Experience
Atoms evolves from Kalanick’s previous company, City Storage Systems, which has now expanded and been rebranded as the robotics-focused venture.
Following his departure from Uber in 2017 and later leaving the company’s board in 2019, Kalanick has largely remained out of the public technology startup conversation. With Atoms, he says he is returning to what he describes as his passion for building physical systems powered by artificial intelligence.
Riding the Physical AI Wave
The launch comes amid growing investor interest in what many are calling Physical AI—the application of artificial intelligence to robots and machines operating in the physical world.
Unlike software-only AI products, Physical AI combines machine learning with robotics, sensors and automation to improve productivity across industries such as manufacturing, logistics, mining and agriculture.
While much of the global robotics conversation has focused on humanoid robots, many analysts believe task-specific automation offers a faster path to commercial adoption because it addresses clearly defined operational needs. This trend has helped attract significant investment into industrial robotics startups over the past year.
A New Chapter in Industrial Innovation
As industries worldwide continue investing in automation to improve efficiency and resilience, Atoms enters the market with an ambitious vision of deploying intelligent robots where they can have the greatest measurable impact.
