Amazon’s Latest Power Play: Snatching Up Covariant’s Talent and Tech in a Desperate Bid to Stay Relevant
In a move that reeks of desperation, Amazon has announced that it has poached the founders of AI startup Covariant, along with a quarter of the company’s employees, in a deal that has all the hallmarks of a classic "reverse acquihire". The e-commerce giant has also secured a non-exclusive license to use Covariant’s robotic foundation models, which is just code for "we want to steal your intellectual property and use it to further our own interests".
But why is Amazon so keen to get its hands on Covariant’s tech? Well, it’s because the startup is working on something truly revolutionary: building a large language model for robots, designed to help them perform common warehouse tasks with ease. It’s like Amazon is trying to create its own army of robot overlords, and Covariant’s tech is the key to unlocking their potential.
And let’s not forget the curious case of Adept, another AI startup that Amazon hired the founders of just a few months ago. Was that a genuine acquisition, or just a clever ploy to get around antitrust regulations? We may never know, but one thing is certain: Amazon is on a mission to corner the market on AI talent and technology, no matter the cost.
So, what does this mean for Covariant? Well, the startup claims it will continue to operate under new leadership, with Ted Stinson taking the reins as CEO. But can they really expect to compete with Amazon’s vast resources and influence? We think not. It’s just another example of the tech giant’s ruthless pursuit of dominance, and we can’t help but wonder what other startups will fall victim to Amazon’s acquisition-by-stealth strategy in the future.
