Amazon Hires Covariant’s Founders, Licenses AI Technology
On Friday evening, Amazon announced that it had hired the founders of Covariant, a robotics startup, along with about a quarter of its employees. The e-commerce giant has also signed a non-exclusive license to use Covariant’s robotic foundation models.
Background on Covariant
Earlier this year, Peter Chen, one of Covariant’s co-founders, spoke with TechCrunch about the company’s mission. Chen explained that Covariant is building "a large language model, but for robot language." In simpler terms, Covariant is creating AI models specifically designed for robots, focusing initially on robotic arms performing common warehouse tasks such as bin picking.
Amazon’s Statement on the Acquisition
Joseph Quinlivan, Vice President of Amazon Fulfillment Technologies & Robotics, commented on the acquisition in a statement. "With some of the smartest minds, we will advance fundamental research, marrying our rich expertise to unlock new ways for AI and robots to assist our operations employees." He added that embedding Covariant’s AI technology into their existing robot fleet would make them more performant and create real-world value for customers.
Comparison to Previous Acquisition
This deal bears similarities to Amazon’s acquisition of Adept, another AI startup, back in June. At the time, TechCrunch described this approach as a "reverse acquihire," where tech giants facing antitrust scrutiny can use hiring and licensing deals to disguise their acquisitions rather than fully acquiring an existing startup.
Covariant’s Response
Covariant stated that it will continue operating under the leadership of Ted Stinson and Tianhao Zhang, with Stinson stepping into the CEO role. The company emphasized its dedication to delivering the Covariant Brain into production environments across a broad set of global industries, including apparel, health and beauty, grocery, and pharmaceuticals.
Implications for Robotics Industry
This acquisition marks another significant step in Amazon’s pursuit of integrating AI technology into its operations. As the e-commerce giant continues to grow its robotics capabilities, it will be interesting to see how Covariant’s AI models impact warehouse efficiency and customer satisfaction.
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Table of Contents
- Amazon Acquires Covariant’s Founders, Licenses AI Technology
- Background on Covariant
- Amazon’s Statement on the Acquisition
- Comparison to Previous Acquisition
- Covariant’s Response
- Implications for Robotics Industry
- Related Articles
- Follow TechCrunch for More on Robotics and AI
What is the Significance of This Acquisition?
The acquisition of Covariant’s founders and licensing of their AI technology marks a significant step in Amazon’s pursuit of integrating AI into its operations. With this deal, Amazon gains access to top talent in the field and advances its research in robotics and AI.
How Will This Impact the Robotics Industry?
As Amazon continues to grow its robotics capabilities, it will be interesting to see how Covariant’s AI models impact warehouse efficiency and customer satisfaction. The acquisition also highlights the growing importance of AI in the logistics industry and Amazon’s commitment to staying at the forefront of this technology.
What is a Reverse Acquihire?
A reverse acquihire refers to a situation where a tech giant hires the founders and employees of a startup, rather than fully acquiring the company. This approach allows the tech giant to gain access to new talent and technology without facing antitrust scrutiny.
Conclusion
Amazon’s acquisition of Covariant’s founders and licensing of their AI technology marks an exciting development in the world of robotics and AI. As the e-commerce giant continues to grow its capabilities, it will be interesting to see how this deal impacts the industry as a whole.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is Covariant?
- Covariant is a robotics startup that specializes in creating AI models for robots.
- Why did Amazon acquire Covariant’s founders and license their AI technology?
- Amazon acquired Covariant’s founders and licensed their AI technology to gain access to top talent in the field and advance its research in robotics and AI.
- What are the implications of this acquisition on the robotics industry?
- The acquisition highlights the growing importance of AI in the logistics industry and Amazon’s commitment to staying at the forefront of this technology.
