'I never left': Travis Kalanick launches new company Atoms

Travis Kalanick, the ex-CEO of Uber, is stepping back into the spotlight with his latest venture, Atoms, which has recently emerged from its developmental phase. This new company is set to transcend its origins in food delivery by expanding into various sectors, including food service, mining, and transportation. In a message shared on Atoms' website, Kalanick expressed the enthusiasm of those around him regarding his new direction, stating, "When I told my friends, family, and colleagues about my plans for what was next, they were really excited that I was 'coming back.' The thing is, I never left." During a recent interview on the show "TBPN," Kalanick revealed that Atoms will incorporate his previous ghost-kitchen initiative, CloudKitchens, into its broader strategy. The company aims to develop a unique "wheelbase for robots," which is intended to support specialized machines instead of imitating human forms. Kalanick emphasized that the focus of Atoms will be on creating practical industrial systems rather than humanoid robots. He noted that the company was rebranded from its previous name, City Storage Systems, to Atoms as part of its evolution. "We've been in stealth mode for eight years," he explained, highlighting the company's significant growth, including thousands of employees who were not permitted to disclose their workplace on professional networks. Kalanick also mentioned that Atoms is on the verge of acquiring Pronto, an autonomous vehicle startup with a focus on industrial and mining applications, founded by his former colleague at Uber, Anthony Levandowski. As Atoms positions itself within the robotics sector, it aims to carve out a niche with specialized robots designed for efficiency and industrial-scale functionality.