Back to AI TrendsRevenue Opportunity
Kalanick's New Venture, Atoms, Shifts Focus to Robotics for Industrial Sectors
CNBC Technology March 13, 2026
Travis Kalanick, Uber's co-founder, is rebranding his current venture, City Storage Systems, to Atoms, signaling a significant pivot into robotics for the mining and transportation industries. This move suggests a strategic play into industrial automation, where AI and machine learning are critical for optimizing efficiency and safety. For executives, it highlights the increasing penetration of robotics into heavy industries and the potential for disruption by tech-savvy founders.
Key Intelligence
- •**Travis Kalanick**, Uber's controversial co-founder, is rebranding his current venture, City Storage Systems, to **Atoms**.
- •The newly branded **Atoms** will focus on developing **robotics solutions** specifically for the demanding **mining and transportation sectors**.
- •This strategic pivot indicates Kalanick's intent to apply tech-driven automation to traditional heavy industries.
- •Modern industrial robotics inherently leverage **AI and machine learning** for tasks like autonomous navigation, predictive maintenance, and operational optimization.
- •The move signals a significant **investment trend** towards automating labor-intensive and hazardous environments like mines and complex logistics.
- •For executives, it underscores the growing opportunity and competitive landscape in **industrial AI and robotics**, particularly in sectors ripe for automation.