Atoms, the “physical AI” holding company led by Uber co-founder Travis Kalanick, is reportedly developing autonomous driving technology, signaling a potential return to the sector Kalanick once prioritized during his tenure at the ride-hailing giant. The move would reunite Kalanick with Anthony Levandowski, the engineer at the center of the high-profile legal battle between Uber and Waymo years ago.
The reported shift toward autonomous transit follows a massive $1.7 billion funding round for Atoms in July 2026, led by Andreessen Horowitz. While the company—formerly known as City Storage Systems and parent to CloudKitchens—has historically focused on real estate and food delivery infrastructure, recent activities suggest a broader ambition. In March 2026, Atoms acquired Pronto, an autonomous driving startup focused on the mining industry, which now serves as a foundation for its transport division.
Conflicting Reports on Robotaxi Strategy
According to reports, Atoms has engaged in preliminary discussions regarding the deployment of its technology on existing ride-hailing networks. Anthony Levandowski is reportedly leading the autonomous driving work within the company, supported by other former Uber executives. In August 2026, Atoms further strengthened its leadership by hiring Gautam Gupta, who served as Uber’s CFO during Kalanick’s leadership, to take on the same role at the new venture.
Despite these developments, Atoms officially denied plans to enter the robotaxi market in a statement issued on September 6, 2026. The company characterized itself as an “industrial software company” and described the robotaxi sector as “saturated.” This official stance contrasts with reporting that suggests active development of a software stack or vehicle technology intended for passenger transport.
The venture represents a pivot from the company’s narrow focus on “ghost kitchens.” Kalanick has recently described the company’s mission through a “bits-to-atoms” framework, focusing on using software to optimize physical world assets. This strategy aligns with the acquisition of Pronto, which provides a working autonomous platform that could theoretically be adapted from heavy industrial environments to urban navigation.
If Atoms were to successfully develop a robotaxi stack, it would enter a landscape currently dominated by Alphabet’s Waymo and facing increasing competition from Tesla’s upcoming autonomous efforts. The involvement of Levandowski remains a point of industry interest; his previous company, Otto, was acquired by Uber in 2016, leading to a $245 million settlement with Waymo and a federal investigation that eventually concluded with a presidential pardon for Levandowski in 2021.
