Companies 2 min read
Atoms reportedly eyes robotaxis and talks with Uber
Travis Kalanick’s startup is reportedly preparing to hire and make acquisitions in autonomous vehicles. Talks with Uber concern its robotaxi technology.
TechCrunch reports that Atoms, the startup founded by Travis Kalanick, may be moving into robotaxis in earnest. The article says the Financial Times reported that Atoms is preparing for a hiring spree and acquisitions that could make it a more serious player in autonomous vehicles.
The same report, as described by TechCrunch, said Atoms has discussed with Uber how the ride-hailing company could use Atoms’ robotaxi technology. TechCrunch adds that Uber has already partnered with many autonomous vehicle companies, and says Uber’s $100 million investment in Atoms had been previously confirmed by TechCrunch.
What is known and what is not
TechCrunch is careful not to present robotaxis as the whole plan. Its piece says sources emphasised that autonomous taxis are not the entirety of Atoms’ ambitions, even if the direction fits Kalanick’s description of the company’s work as unfinished business.
There are at least a few tangible markers around the edges. TechCrunch notes Atoms announced a $1.7 billion funding round earlier in the summer and acquired Pronto, an autonomous mining startup led by former Uber self-driving executive Anthony Levandowski. Even so, the present account rests on reported talks and preparation rather than a public launch, product rollout or signed commercial deployment.
For Uber, Atoms and rivals in autonomy, the practical question is not whether robotaxis sound futuristic but who supplies the stack, who owns the fleet relationship and how quickly capital turns into deployed service. Reported talks suggest Atoms is trying to become a platform contender, not merely a well-funded mystery.
Sources & publication notes
Published in our 07/09/2026 edition. Source dates are shown above.
The AI Street Journal · Free to read
The daily paper
A good read. Before the day begins.
The daily paper, delivered free. Read it with your coffee.