Travis Kalanick says robots will usher in a 'golden age'

Travis Kalanick unveiled Atoms, his new robotics venture, on Friday and argued that automating the physical world marks the next phase of the AI era. He wrote that while software has automated language and math, complete automation of the physical world — autonomy — remains largely untouched and could trigger a “Golden Age.” Kalanick said autonomous machines building other machines and self-improving software could drive productivity to unprecedented levels and make the organization of human capital “superhuman.” He told the tech show TBPN that Atoms has operated in stealth for eight years and aims to expand delivery infrastructure beyond food into food service, mining, and transportation.

The company’s stated goal is to create “gainfully employed robots,” defined as specialized machines with productive jobs that bring abundance to owners and society. Kalanick also cautioned against modeling robots on humans, noting that a humanoid robot race he watched in Beijing made him think the competitors would be better off on wheels.

travis kalanick, atoms, robotics, autonomy, autonomous machines, self-improving software, delivery infrastructure, food service, mining, transportation