FT: Kalanick’s Atoms building robotaxi tech; Uber talks + $100M stake

On 6 Sep 2026 TechCrunch relayed a Financial Times report that Travis Kalanick’s industrial-AI company Atoms — fresh off a $1.7B a16z-led round earlier this summer — is preparing a hiring and acquisition push that could make it a major autonomous-vehicle player. The FT says Atoms has discussed how Uber could use the startup’s robotaxi technology, and reiterates Uber’s $100M investment in Atoms (previously confirmed by TechCrunch). Robotaxis are not said to be Atoms’ entire plan; the direction fits Kalanick’s “unfinished business” framing and Atoms’ acquisition of Pronto (Anthony Levandowski).