Adept Joins Forces with Amazon to Boost AI Capabilities
Adept, a startup specializing in AI-powered “agents” for software tasks, has struck a deal to license its technology to Amazon. The company’s co-founders and several team members will now be part of Amazon’s workforce, as reported by Geekwire’s Taylor Soper.
This move doesn’t mean the end for Adept. Zach Brock, head of engineering, will step in as the new CEO while the company shifts focus to refining “solutions that enable agentic AI.”
In a recent blog post, Adept stated, “[Our products] will continue to be powered by a combination of our existing state-of-the-art in-house [AI] models, agentic data, web interaction software and custom infrastructure.” This strategic shift aims to emphasize their vision for creating efficient general intelligence and enterprise agent products.
Having been in talks with Meta and Microsoft for a potential acquisition, Adept’s decision to collaborate with Amazon offers a fresh perspective. Amazon gains valuable expertise and technology to enhance its generative AI pursuits.
The partnership with Amazon aligns well with Adept’s initial mission of creating an AI model capable of executing actions on various software tools using natural language. Despite facing setbacks, such as losing co-founders and delays in product development, Adept’s technology has garnered significant support from investors like Nvidia, Atlassian, Workday, and Greylock.
The competitive landscape for AI agents is evolving rapidly, with well-funded startups like Orby and Emergence venturing into this lucrative space. The Amazon partnership could be the boost Adept needs to navigate this crowded market successfully.
As the industry watches these developments unfold, it raises questions about the future of AI aqui-hires and regulatory oversight in the tech sector. It’s a story worth following closely as it plays out in real-time.