Travis Kalanick on Building Atoms After Uber

优步创始人特拉维斯·卡兰尼克（Travis Kalanick）最近结束了长达八年的“隐居期”，揭开了他的新公司“Atoms”的神秘面纱，并阐述了他对“下一次工业革命”的愿景。他的核心理念——“将物理世界数字化”或“比特到原子”（bits to atoms）——十多年来一直是他前行的动力，源于他在优步的经历，他将优步描述为通过将软件（比特）应用于物理运动（原子）来创建一个“物理世界网络”。 如今，卡兰尼克将这一概念延伸至“工业AI”，他将其定义为“由软件、传感器、机器人技术和人工智能组成的系统，用于自动化整个工业部门的运营”。他认为这些是“价值数万亿美元的行业”，它们已准备好进行超越数字领域的自动化。他重点介绍了三种关键的“基于原子的计算机”： 1. **食品计算机（Food Computer）：** 旨在自动化食品生产（机器人技术）、物流（“自主卷饼”）以及专业房地产，使预制餐食比杂货店的商品更便宜。 2. **采矿计算机（Mining Computer）：** 致力于创造“更高效的矿山，为地球工业提供动力”，通过自动化所有环节，从材料提取和移动（土地作为“存储”，运输作为“网络”）到加工成金属和矿物，同时提高危险环境中的安全性。 3. **运输（“机器人的轮子”，Wheels for Robots）：** 这涉及到专业化的工业级机器人技术（与人形机器人不同），其中自主性是一个关键平台。他将此称为赋能食品配送、包裹递送、卡车运输和越野应用等“银牌”行业，每个行业都价值数千亿美元。 卡兰尼克称他的创造物为“进步机器”（Progress Machines），通过发现“有价值的未知真相”而建造。然而，他将“抵制变革”视为进步的“最终大Boss”。他将这与第二次工业革命进行类比，提到了亨利·弗里克（卡内基的合伙人，在劳资纠纷中遭遇暗杀未遂）和托马斯·爱迪生（他曾公开电击动物以诋毁交流电）。他将这些历史斗争与优步面临的现代阻力（罢工、抗议）以及目前针对Waymo的抗议联系起来，强调进步本身就面临阻力。 回顾他作为创始人的演变，卡兰尼克指出，自优步以来，他发生了显著变化。他以前一直处于无情的“生存模式”，总是“游走在边缘”，承认在没有建立信任的情况下，快速变革的危险性。如今，他“离那条线有几英寸远了”，以更高的效率和更小的压力运作，但仍保持着强烈的动力。尽管早期的创业是由一种“愤怒”的情绪驱动的，他将目前的动力描述为“再次坠入爱河”，以一种“美好而纯净的方式”进行创造。他倡导一种“最佳创意胜出”的文化，即使这意味着“冒犯他人”，这与满足于“平庸”或“政治权宜之计”的创意形成了对比。 卡兰尼克认为他目前的工作是他基本愿景的延续，如今应用于更广泛、更工业化的领域。他正在召回许多前优步同事，将那种共同的“心血”与新人才融合。他将自己的公开复出归因于媒体格局的巨大变化。他认为，当前的环境，创业者可以进行直接沟通，而不再像十年前那样普遍存在“批斗会”式的负面情绪（并将这种转变归功于埃隆·马斯克），让建设者能够专注于创造而非公众认知，从而开启工业发展的新时代。

Travis Kalanick, founder of Uber, recently ended an "eight-year cave" period to unveil his new venture, Atoms, and articulate his vision for the "next industrial revolution." His core philosophy, "digitizing the physical world" or "bits to atoms," has been a driving force for over a decade, originating from his time at Uber, which he describes as creating a "network for the physical world" by applying software (bits) to physical movement (atoms). Now, Kalanick is extending this concept to "Industrial AI," defining it as "systems of software, sensors, robotics, and AI used to automate operations of entire industrial sectors." He identifies these as "multiple trillion-dollar industries" that are ripe for automation beyond the digital realm. He highlights three key "atoms-based computers": 1. **Food Computer:** Aims to automate food production (robotics), logistics ("autonomous burritos"), and specialized real estate to make prepared meals cheaper than groceries. 2. **Mining Computer:** Focuses on creating "more productive mines to power Earth's industries" by automating all aspects, from material extraction and movement (land as "storage," transport as "network") to processing into metals and minerals, while also improving safety in hazardous environments. 3. **Transport ("Wheels for Robots"):** This involves specialized, industrial-scale robotics (distinct from humanoids) where autonomy is a critical platform. He refers to this as powering "silver medal" industries like food delivery, parcel delivery, trucking, and off-road applications, each representing hundreds of billions of dollars. Kalanick calls his creations "Progress Machines," built by discovering "valuable unknown truths." However, he identifies "resistance to change" as the "final boss" for progress. He draws parallels to the Second Industrial Revolution, citing figures like Henry Frick (Carnegie's partner, who survived an assassination attempt during labor disputes) and Thomas Edison (who publicly electrocuted animals to discredit AC current). He connects these historical struggles to modern-day resistance Uber faced (strikes, protests) and current protests against Waymo, emphasizing that progress inherently faces opposition. Reflecting on his evolution as a founder, Kalanick notes a significant shift since Uber. He previously operated in a relentless "survival mode," always "right up against the line," acknowledging the danger of rapid change without building trust. Now, he's "a few inches off that line," operating with greater efficiency and less stress, yet maintaining intense drive. While earlier ventures were fueled by a "pissed off" energy, he describes his current motivation as "falling in love again," creating in a "beautiful undirty way." He champions a culture where "the best idea wins," even if it means "toe-stepping," contrasting it with settling for "mediocre" or "politically expedient" ideas. Kalanick sees his current work as a continuation of his foundational vision, now applied to broader, more industrial sectors. He's bringing back many former Uber colleagues, blending that shared "heart" with new talent. He attributes his public return to a dramatically changed media landscape. He believes that the current environment, where entrepreneurs can communicate directly without the "struggle session" negativity prevalent a decade ago (and credits Elon Musk for empowering this shift), allows builders to focus on creation rather than public perception, thereby ushering in a new era of industrial advancement.