Alphabet神秘的X研發(fā)部門(前身為谷歌X)的大多數(shù)項(xiàng)目沒(méi)能走出實(shí)驗(yàn)室。但有時(shí),一些諸如自動(dòng)駕駛汽車、疾病預(yù)防等天方夜譚式的想法(谷歌稱之為登月項(xiàng)目)會(huì)取得突破,成為這家科技巨頭的新公司。
工業(yè)機(jī)器人項(xiàng)目Intrinsic是最近一個(gè)從X部畢業(yè)、成為Alphabet新獨(dú)立業(yè)務(wù)的登月項(xiàng)目。Alphabet在接受《財(cái)富》雜志獨(dú)家采訪時(shí)表示,隨著Intrinsic走入下一階段,成為Alphabet的"其他賭注"(Other Bets),即谷歌以外的其他重要業(yè)務(wù),新公司也將迎來(lái)自己的首席執(zhí)行官:科技行業(yè)經(jīng)驗(yàn)豐富的創(chuàng)始人、投資人和高管溫迪?譚?懷特。
“我一直致力于實(shí)現(xiàn)技術(shù)的大眾化?!弊T?懷特說(shuō),“如果我們能開(kāi)放工業(yè)機(jī)器人的使用,將從根本上徹底改變世界的制造和生產(chǎn)方式?!?/p>
上世紀(jì)90年代末,譚?懷特與他人共同創(chuàng)立了Moonfruit,并擔(dān)任首席執(zhí)行官,這家英國(guó)公司是第一家讓不會(huì)編程的用戶也可以創(chuàng)建網(wǎng)站的公司。之后,她也曾為其他初創(chuàng)公司工作,包括歐洲P2P借貸網(wǎng)站Zopa.com和互聯(lián)網(wǎng)銀行Egg.com。近年來(lái),譚?懷特一直專注于機(jī)器人和生物技術(shù)的投資。兩年半前,她從英國(guó)搬到加州,加入X,擔(dān)任副總裁。
目前為止,譚?懷特在Alphabet一直擔(dān)任X項(xiàng)目的導(dǎo)師——有些項(xiàng)目是公開(kāi)的,有些保密。除了Intrinsic項(xiàng)目,她還幫助開(kāi)發(fā)了Tidal,該項(xiàng)目的目的是通過(guò)機(jī)器感知工具和水下攝像機(jī)來(lái)保護(hù)海洋。
她擔(dān)任Intrinsic的首席執(zhí)行官后,將不再負(fù)責(zé)其他項(xiàng)目的業(yè)務(wù)。這家新公司的雄心是讓企業(yè)能夠輕松地給機(jī)器人編程(如制造類機(jī)器人),讓它們完成任務(wù)。比如說(shuō),不需要給每臺(tái)機(jī)器編程讓它們“旋轉(zhuǎn)90度”來(lái)完成安裝任務(wù),只需指示制造機(jī)器人“旋轉(zhuǎn)螺絲,直到擰緊為止”即可。
“完全是科幻小說(shuō)里的場(chǎng)景,”阿斯特羅?特勒解釋說(shuō)。是他把X項(xiàng)目經(jīng)營(yíng)為Alphabet的“登月船長(zhǎng)”,也是他聘用了譚?懷特。
Intrinsic還沒(méi)有發(fā)布產(chǎn)品,它專注于機(jī)器人軟件,而非硬件。該公司的誕生源于Alphabet在機(jī)器人領(lǐng)域的投入(也包括收購(gòu)),總方向可以分為三類:“輔助、移動(dòng)和制造”。Intrinsic屬于“制造”類。
從某些方面看,Intrinsic的使命與現(xiàn)年50歲的譚懷特創(chuàng)建了近20年的公司類似。Moonfruit的目標(biāo)是幫助沒(méi)有專業(yè)知識(shí)的人創(chuàng)建互聯(lián)網(wǎng)網(wǎng)頁(yè),與之類似,Intrinsic的目標(biāo)是有朝一日讓缺乏足夠資金或資源為自己的專業(yè)機(jī)器編程的企業(yè)也能用上機(jī)器人。這樣一來(lái),即使沒(méi)有自己的機(jī)器人技術(shù),公司也更容易入門,現(xiàn)有制造商也能更快做出調(diào)整,舉個(gè)例子,這項(xiàng)技術(shù)在新冠肺炎疫情初期對(duì)企業(yè)而言會(huì)非常有用。
譚懷特將加入Waymo聯(lián)合首席執(zhí)行官特科德拉?馬瓦卡拉的行列,成為掌管Alphabet旗下企業(yè)的極少數(shù)有色人種女性,Alphabet內(nèi)部同級(jí)別的職位有十幾個(gè)。在英國(guó),譚懷特于2016年被伊麗莎白女王二世授予英帝國(guó)勛章,以表彰她在科技和商業(yè)方面的貢獻(xiàn),包括她對(duì)科技領(lǐng)域女性的支持?!拔液苤匾曔@份工作?!弊T懷特說(shuō),“我知道,Alphabet是一家在世界上十分有影響力的大公司?!保ㄘ?cái)富中文網(wǎng))
譯者:Agatha
Alphabet神秘的X研發(fā)部門(前身為谷歌X)的大多數(shù)項(xiàng)目沒(méi)能走出實(shí)驗(yàn)室。但有時(shí),一些諸如自動(dòng)駕駛汽車、疾病預(yù)防等天方夜譚式的想法(谷歌稱之為登月項(xiàng)目)會(huì)取得突破,成為這家科技巨頭的新公司。
工業(yè)機(jī)器人項(xiàng)目Intrinsic是最近一個(gè)從X部畢業(yè)、成為Alphabet新獨(dú)立業(yè)務(wù)的登月項(xiàng)目。Alphabet在接受《財(cái)富》雜志獨(dú)家采訪時(shí)表示,隨著Intrinsic走入下一階段,成為Alphabet的"其他賭注"(Other Bets),即谷歌以外的其他重要業(yè)務(wù),新公司也將迎來(lái)自己的首席執(zhí)行官:科技行業(yè)經(jīng)驗(yàn)豐富的創(chuàng)始人、投資人和高管溫迪?譚?懷特。
“我一直致力于實(shí)現(xiàn)技術(shù)的大眾化。”譚?懷特說(shuō),“如果我們能開(kāi)放工業(yè)機(jī)器人的使用,將從根本上徹底改變世界的制造和生產(chǎn)方式?!?/p>
上世紀(jì)90年代末,譚?懷特與他人共同創(chuàng)立了Moonfruit,并擔(dān)任首席執(zhí)行官,這家英國(guó)公司是第一家讓不會(huì)編程的用戶也可以創(chuàng)建網(wǎng)站的公司。之后,她也曾為其他初創(chuàng)公司工作,包括歐洲P2P借貸網(wǎng)站Zopa.com和互聯(lián)網(wǎng)銀行Egg.com。近年來(lái),譚?懷特一直專注于機(jī)器人和生物技術(shù)的投資。兩年半前,她從英國(guó)搬到加州,加入X,擔(dān)任副總裁。
目前為止,譚?懷特在Alphabet一直擔(dān)任X項(xiàng)目的導(dǎo)師——有些項(xiàng)目是公開(kāi)的,有些保密。除了Intrinsic項(xiàng)目,她還幫助開(kāi)發(fā)了Tidal,該項(xiàng)目的目的是通過(guò)機(jī)器感知工具和水下攝像機(jī)來(lái)保護(hù)海洋。
她擔(dān)任Intrinsic的首席執(zhí)行官后,將不再負(fù)責(zé)其他項(xiàng)目的業(yè)務(wù)。這家新公司的雄心是讓企業(yè)能夠輕松地給機(jī)器人編程(如制造類機(jī)器人),讓它們完成任務(wù)。比如說(shuō),不需要給每臺(tái)機(jī)器編程讓它們“旋轉(zhuǎn)90度”來(lái)完成安裝任務(wù),只需指示制造機(jī)器人“旋轉(zhuǎn)螺絲,直到擰緊為止”即可。
“完全是科幻小說(shuō)里的場(chǎng)景,”阿斯特羅?特勒解釋說(shuō)。是他把X項(xiàng)目經(jīng)營(yíng)為Alphabet的“登月船長(zhǎng)”,也是他聘用了譚?懷特。
Intrinsic還沒(méi)有發(fā)布產(chǎn)品,它專注于機(jī)器人軟件,而非硬件。該公司的誕生源于Alphabet在機(jī)器人領(lǐng)域的投入(也包括收購(gòu)),總方向可以分為三類:“輔助、移動(dòng)和制造”。Intrinsic屬于“制造”類。
從某些方面看,Intrinsic的使命與現(xiàn)年50歲的譚懷特創(chuàng)建了近20年的公司類似。Moonfruit的目標(biāo)是幫助沒(méi)有專業(yè)知識(shí)的人創(chuàng)建互聯(lián)網(wǎng)網(wǎng)頁(yè),與之類似,Intrinsic的目標(biāo)是有朝一日讓缺乏足夠資金或資源為自己的專業(yè)機(jī)器編程的企業(yè)也能用上機(jī)器人。這樣一來(lái),即使沒(méi)有自己的機(jī)器人技術(shù),公司也更容易入門,現(xiàn)有制造商也能更快做出調(diào)整,舉個(gè)例子,這項(xiàng)技術(shù)在新冠肺炎疫情初期對(duì)企業(yè)而言會(huì)非常有用。
譚懷特將加入Waymo聯(lián)合首席執(zhí)行官特科德拉?馬瓦卡拉的行列,成為掌管Alphabet旗下企業(yè)的極少數(shù)有色人種女性,Alphabet內(nèi)部同級(jí)別的職位有十幾個(gè)。在英國(guó),譚懷特于2016年被伊麗莎白女王二世授予英帝國(guó)勛章,以表彰她在科技和商業(yè)方面的貢獻(xiàn),包括她對(duì)科技領(lǐng)域女性的支持?!拔液苤匾曔@份工作?!弊T懷特說(shuō),“我知道,Alphabet是一家在世界上十分有影響力的大公司?!保ㄘ?cái)富中文網(wǎng))
譯者:Agatha
Most projects in Alphabet's secretive X research and development division—formerly known as Google X—never make it out of the lab. But occasionally, a "moonshot" idea like self-driving cars or disease prevention breaks through to become a new company within the tech giant.
The latest moonshot to do just that is Intrinsic, an industrial robotics project that is "graduating" from X to become its own Alphabet business. As the project moves into this next stage as part of what Alphabet dubs "Other Bets" —businesses outside Google — Intrinsic is getting its own CEO: longtime tech founder, investor, and executive Wendy Tan White, Alphabet tells Fortune exclusively.
"I've always been about democratizing technology," says Tan White. "If we can open up the accessibility of industrial robotics, we will totally, fundamentally change how the world makes and produces things."
In the late 1990s, Tan White co-founded and served as CEO of Moonfruit, a U.K. business that was the first to offer a way to build a website without coding expertise. Since then, she has worked on other startups including the European peer-to-peer lending site Zopa.com and internet bank Egg.com. In recent years, Tan White focused on investing in robotics and biotech before she moved from the U.K. to California to join X as a vice president two-and-a-half years ago.
During her time at the company so far, Tan White acted as a mentor to X projects—some public, and some kept secret by Alphabet. In addition to working with Intrinsic, she helped develop Tidal, an effort to protect the world's oceans via machine perception tools and underwater cameras.
As she moves into this CEO role, Tan White will now be exclusively focused on Intrinsic. The new company's ambitious goal is to make it possible for companies to be able to easily program robots, like the kind used in manufacturing, to complete tasks. Instead of needing to program each machine to "rotate 90 degrees" to complete an installation step, for example, a company could instead instruct a manufacturing robot to "turn the screw until it's tight."
"That's complete science fiction right now," explains Astro Teller, who hired Tan White and runs X as Alphabet's "captain of moonshots."
Intrinsic doesn't yet have a product to announce, but it's focused on robotics software, not hardware. The company came out of Alphabet's work on robotics, including via acquisitions, which Alphabet separated into three categories: "help, move, and make." Intrinsic is what Alphabet called "make."
The mission is in some ways similar to the business Tan White, now 50, launched in her late 20s. Similar to how Moonfruit sought to help people without specialized knowledge to build websites on the internet, Intrinsic aims to one day make robotics accessible to businesses that lack the money or resources to program their own specialized machines. Such a change would make it easier for companies without their own robotics technology to begin working in the field and for existing manufacturers to make faster pivots — something that would have been useful in the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, for example.
Tan White will join Waymo co-CEO Tekedra Mawakana as a rare woman of color running an Alphabet business (there are about a dozen such roles within Alphabet). In the U.K., Tan White was awarded in 2016 an MBE by Queen Elizabeth II for her services to technology and business, including supporting women in tech. "I take the responsibility seriously," says Tan White. "I know that Alphabet is a big, impactful company in the world."