Amazon hires Covariant's founders and licenses robotic AI technology

Amazon has hired the founders of AI robotics startup Covariant, including Pieter Abbeel, Peter Chen, and Rocky Duan, along with approximately 25% of the startup’s employees. The retail giant has also secured a non-exclusive license to use Covariant’s robotic foundation models. Covariant is known for developing AI models focused on robotic arms performing warehouse tasks.

Joseph Quinlivan, VP of Amazon Fulfillment Technologies & Robotics, stated that integrating Covariant’s AI technology will enhance their robots’ performance and create significant value for customers. This move is reminiscent of Amazon’s June hiring of AI startup Adept’s founders, a strategy dubbed “reverse acquihire” to sidestep antitrust issues. Covariant will continue operating under new leadership, focusing on deploying its AI, Covariant Brain, across various industries globally.

Source: TechCrunch