Former Uber CEO Travis Kalanick Unveils Atoms, New Robotics Venture Spanning Multiple Industries

The former chief executive of Uber, Travis Kalanick, has announced the launch of Atoms, a robotics-focused enterprise designed to operate across food service, mining, and transportation sectors. The new venture represents Kalanick’s return to technology development after his departure from the ride-sharing giant.

The entrepreneur is incorporating his existing ghost kitchen business, CloudKitchens, into the broader Atoms framework. According to the company’s official website, Atoms plans to develop a specialized “wheelbase for robots” that will power various automated systems across different industries.

During a recent live interview, Kalanick clarified that his robotics strategy focuses on specialized industrial machines rather than humanoid robots. He emphasized that while humanoid robots serve certain purposes, there remains significant opportunity for purpose-built automated systems designed for efficient, large-scale industrial operations.

A key component of Atoms’ expansion involves Kalanick’s planned acquisition of Pronto, an autonomous vehicle company specializing in industrial and mining applications. Pronto was founded by Anthony Levandowski, who previously worked alongside Kalanick at Uber. Kalanick disclosed that he currently holds the position of largest investor in Pronto and expects to complete the acquisition soon.

The former Uber executive described industrial applications as the primary focus area for Atoms, while downplaying immediate plans for passenger transportation. He suggested that mastering physical world movement could eventually open doors to various applications, though people transportation remains a longer-term consideration.

Recent reports indicate that Kalanick’s new venture has attracted substantial financial backing from Uber itself, with sources suggesting he aims to deploy autonomous driving technology more aggressively than competitors like Waymo. However, Uber has not provided official confirmation of this support, and Atoms’ website does not reference any Uber involvement.

Previous reports had linked Kalanick to potential acquisition discussions with Pony AI, a Chinese autonomous vehicle company’s U.S. operations, though these negotiations reportedly concluded without a deal.

Kalanick’s departure from Uber in 2017 followed a series of corporate scandals, including widespread allegations of workplace harassment and discrimination. An external investigation resulted in the termination of more than 20 employees and ultimately led to his resignation as CEO.

Prior to his exit, Kalanick had established Uber’s autonomous vehicle division in 2015, recruiting Levandowski from Google to lead the initiative. This effort became embroiled in legal controversy when Google sued Uber for allegedly stealing trade secrets related to self-driving car technology. While the companies eventually reached a settlement, Levandowski faced criminal charges and received an 18-month prison sentence for his role in the intellectual property theft. He later received a presidential pardon from Donald Trump.

Uber continued developing autonomous vehicle technology after Kalanick’s departure, even following a fatal 2018 incident involving one of its test vehicles. However, current CEO Dara Khosrowshahi ultimately decided to divest the division, selling it to Aurora, an autonomous trucking company, in 2020.

In a recent interview, Kalanick expressed regret over Uber’s decision to abandon its in-house autonomous vehicle development, suggesting this experience influences his current approach with Atoms.