Travis Kalanick announced the creation of Atoms, a new robotics company focused on industrial automation. The venture involves rolling his existing ghost kitchen business, CloudKitchens, into the new entity. The company aims to deploy specialized robots across food, mining, and transportation sectors. This move marks a significant return to physical technology for the Uber co-founder.
Atoms plans to build a universal wheelbase for these machines to operate in various environments. Kalanick clarified during an interview with TBPN that the focus remains on specialized robots rather than humanoids. He stated that industrial-scale efficiency drives their current strategy and product roadmap. The website mentions building infrastructure for robots to handle specific tasks in defined areas.
Mining appears to be a primary focus for the new organization alongside food services. Kalanick indicated he is acquiring Pronto, an autonomous vehicle startup founded by Anthony Levandowski. He confirmed he is already the largest investor in that company according to recent reports. This acquisition provides the necessary infrastructure for mining and industrial site operations.
Transporting humans remains a secondary goal for the near future according to Kalanick. He demurred on the idea of using Atoms robots to move people in the short term. Once movement in the physical world is cracked, he noted access will be highly sought after. The current strategy prioritizes heavy industrial applications over passenger transport.
Reports from The Information suggest significant backing from Uber for the self-driving initiatives. However, Uber did not comment immediately on the matter regarding the new funding. The Atoms website does not currently list Uber as a partner or parent company. This silence creates ambiguity about the financial relationship between the two entities.
Kalanick resigned from Uber in 2017 following multiple corporate crises and public scandals. Those issues included severe complaints regarding discrimination and harassment within the workplace. His departure followed a period of intense scrutiny over the company culture and leadership. An external investigation resulted in more than 20 employees being fired during that time.
He previously established a self-driving division at Uber in 2015 under his leadership. Levandowski joined the project after leaving Google, sparking a major legal battle between the rivals. Google sued Uber for stealing trade secrets related to its autonomous car project. The two companies eventually settled the dispute but the damage to reputation remained.
Levandowski faced criminal charges and was sentenced to 18 months in prison for his role in the affair. He received a pardon from President Trump at the end of the first term. This history complicates the current partnership with Pronto and the new Atoms initiative. Legal scrutiny remains a factor for autonomous vehicle startups in the current regulatory environment.
Kalanick expressed regret in March 2025 regarding Uber abandoning its own self-driving cars. The new venture suggests a return to aggressive development in physical automation and logistics. Investors will watch how Atoms navigates the complex regulatory environment for robotics. The company aims to solve movement in the physical world before scaling to passenger transport.
