Amazon Bolsters its Robotics Capabilities with Covariant Acquisition
Amazon has made another strategic move in the robotics space by hiring the founders of Covariant, an artificial intelligence (AI) startup specializing in robotic technology. The founders – Pieter Abbeel, Peter Chen, and Rocky Duan – along with a significant portion of Covariant’s employees, have joined Amazon. Additionally, Amazon has obtained a non-exclusive license to use Covariant’s robotic foundation models.
Covariant’s focus is on developing AI models specifically tailored for robots, with an initial emphasis on robotic arms performing tasks commonly found in warehouses, such as bin picking. The goal is to enhance the capabilities of Amazon’s existing robot fleet, making them more efficient and valuable to customers.
This move by Amazon is reminiscent of their previous acquisition of AI startup Adept, where they hired the founders to gain access to their talent and technology without fully acquiring the company. This approach has been dubbed a “reverse acquihire” and allows tech giants like Amazon to navigate antitrust scrutiny by disguising acquisitions through hiring and licensing deals.
Despite the acquisition, Covariant will continue to operate independently under the leadership of Ted Stinson and Tianhao Zhang. Stinson, previously the startup’s COO, will now assume the role of CEO. The company remains committed to deploying its Covariant Brain technology across various industries, including apparel, health and beauty, grocery, and pharmaceuticals.
This acquisition aligns with Amazon’s larger strategy of leveraging robotics and AI to optimize its operations and enhance customer experiences. By bringing onboard the expertise of Covariant’s founders and employees, Amazon aims to advance its research in AI and robotics and unlock new ways for these technologies to assist their operations employees.
The implications of this acquisition extend beyond Amazon’s operations. As AI and robotics continue to evolve, the integration of these technologies into various industries can significantly impact efficiency, productivity, and overall business performance. Covariant’s expertise in developing AI models tailored for robots has the potential to revolutionize tasks in industries like apparel, health and beauty, grocery, and pharmaceuticals, where automation can bring numerous benefits.
As Amazon strengthens its position in the robotics industry, other tech giants are also investing heavily in AI and robotics. This competition is driving innovation and spurring advancements in these fields. With the talent and technology gained from Covariant, Amazon is well-positioned to continue leading the way in the integration of AI and robotics into various sectors. The future of automation and intelligent robotics is undoubtedly promising, and Amazon’s latest acquisition reaffirms its commitment to staying at the forefront of this transformative technology.