Amazon hires founders away from AI startup Adept

A startup called Adept, which specializes in AI-powered agents for software tasks, has agreed to license its technology to Amazon. The co-founders and some team members of Adept will be joining Amazon as part of the deal.

According to Geekwire’s Taylor Soper, Adept’s co-founder and CEO David Luan, along with other co-founders and team members, will be moving to Amazon. However, Adept will continue its operations with Zach Brock taking over as CEO.

Adept will focus on developing solutions for agentic AI, utilizing existing AI models, data, and infrastructure. The deal with Amazon comes as a lifeline for Adept, which had been in discussions with Meta and Microsoft for a potential acquisition.

Amazon stands to benefit from the talent and technology acquired from Adept, enhancing its generative AI initiatives. Luan will work under Rohit Prasad to further Amazon’s efforts in building digital agents.

Adept’s original goal was to create an AI model capable of performing actions on various software tools using natural language. Despite facing challenges, Adept managed to attract investments and achieve a significant valuation.

The market for AI agents is competitive, with startups like Orby and Emergence also vying for market share. The tie-in with Amazon could propel Adept to success, but uncertainties remain.

The future of Adept, post-acquisition, remains uncertain. It could follow a path similar to Inflection, an AI startup absorbed by Microsoft, or face regulatory challenges in the evolving AI landscape.

Exciting developments lie ahead for Adept and Amazon, making it a story worth following closely.