Amazon Recruits Founders of AI Robotics Firm Covariant

In a recent announcement on Friday, Amazon has welcomed the creators of Covariant — Pieter Abbeel, Peter Chen, and Rocky Duan — to its team, bringing on board “about a quarter” of the startup’s workforce. In addition, Amazon has acquired a non-exclusive agreement to implement Covariant’s advanced robotic models.

Earlier in the year, during a discussion with TechCrunch, Chen explained that Covariant is in the process of developing “a large language model tailored for robots.” This entails the creation of artificial intelligence designed specifically for robotic applications, initially focusing on robotic arms that are tasked with standard warehouse functions such as sorting and organizing items.

Joseph Quinlivan, Vice President of Amazon Fulfillment Technologies & Robotics, highlighted in his remarks, “With some of the brightest minds in the field, we aim to push the boundaries of fundamental research, combining our extensive knowledge to discover novel applications of AI and robotics that will support our operational staff.” He further noted, “Integrating Covariant’s AI advancements into our current fleet of robots will enhance their efficiency, thereby delivering tangible benefits to our clients.”

This transaction mirrors Amazon’s strategy witnessed in June when it onboarded the founders of the AI firm Adept — a move allowing Amazon to access fresh expertise and innovative technologies without the need for outright acquisition of the company.

At that time, The Verge identified such strategy as a “reverse acquihire,” highlighting how major tech entities, amid growing antitrust concerns, might opt for employment and licensing agreements as covert means of expansion, in contrast to direct acquisitions.

Covariant revealed its intention to carry on its mission under the leadership of Ted Stinson and Tianhao Zhang, with Stinson transitioning from COO to CEO. The company reaffirmed its commitment to deploying the Covariant Brain in varied production settings across multiple global sectors, including fashion, health and beauty, groceries, and pharmaceuticals.