The CEO of Allbirds’ new AI biz has a plan, but no employees
The shoe company Allbirds has pivoted to become an AI infrastructure provider named Smartbird after selling its footwear business. The new CEO, Nadia Carlsten, is currently building a leadership team to focus on managed AI deployments for clients prioritizing data sovereignty.
Why it matters
This illustrates the trend of struggling retail companies pivoting to the AI sector to capitalize on investor interest and market demand.
When Allbirds pivoted to AI in April, it felt like a joke from Silicon Valley breaking free of the TV: The direct-to-consumer shoe purveyor whose flimsy kicks helped define what we ll loosely call Silicon Valley style had discovered a new trend to chase.
The reporting is factual, though it uses a slightly skeptical tone regarding the company's pivot strategy.
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