Amazon has recently taken a significant step in enhancing its AI and robotics capabilities by hiring the founders of Covariant, a pioneering AI robotics startup. The founders—Pieter Abbeel, Peter Chen, and Rocky Duan—along with approximately 25% of Covariant’s workforce, have joined Amazon’s team. In addition to this talent acquisition, Amazon has secured a non-exclusive license to use Covariant’s advanced robotic foundation models.
Covariant, known for its cutting-edge AI models tailored for robotic applications, has been focused on developing systems that enable robots, particularly robotic arms, to perform complex tasks like bin picking in warehouses. Earlier this year, Peter Chen, one of the co-founders, described their work as building “a large language model, but for robot language,” highlighting the startup’s innovative approach to bridging AI with robotics.
Joseph Quinlivan, Amazon’s Vice President of Fulfillment Technologies & Robotics, expressed enthusiasm about the integration, stating that the addition of Covariant’s technology and expertise would significantly enhance Amazon’s robotics fleet. “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,” Quinlivan noted. The goal is to make Amazon’s robots more efficient and valuable in real-world operations, ultimately benefiting customers.
This move mirrors Amazon’s earlier strategy when it hired the founders of AI startup Adept in June, a deal that was similarly structured to gain access to new talent and technology without fully acquiring the startup. Such strategies have been referred to as “reverse acquihires,” where companies like Amazon, under scrutiny for antitrust issues, opt for hiring and licensing arrangements rather than outright acquisitions to avoid regulatory challenges.
Despite the departure of its founders, Covariant remains committed to its mission under the new leadership of Ted Stinson and Tianhao Zhang. Stinson, previously the COO, has taken on the role of CEO. The company plans to continue rolling out its Covariant Brain, an AI-driven robotic system, across various industries, including apparel, health and beauty, grocery, and pharmaceuticals.
This strategic move by Amazon highlights the growing importance of AI and robotics in logistics and fulfillment, as the company seeks to stay at the forefront of innovation in these areas. With the integration of Covariant’s technology, Amazon is poised to further enhance its operational efficiency and maintain its competitive edge in the e-commerce industry.
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