The CEO of Allbirds’ new AI biz has a plan, but no employees

Allbirds co-founder and former CEO Joey Zwillinger launched a new artificial intelligence company, appropriately named Allbirds AI, this week. Zwillinger stated that the company has secured $20 million in seed funding, though he did not disclose the investors. The initial focus of Allbirds AI will be on developing AI tools to enhance sustainability within the fashion industry, a core tenet of the original Allbirds shoe company. Zwillinger indicated that the company will prioritize developing AI that can help reduce waste and improve the efficiency of manufacturing processes. He also mentioned that the company is exploring applications of AI in areas such as supply chain optimization and material innovation. Despite the significant seed funding, Zwillinger confirmed that Allbirds AI currently has no employees, with Zwillinger himself being the sole founder and operator. He plans to begin hiring for key engineering and research roles in the coming months, aiming to build a team of approximately 10-15 individuals by the end of 2024. The company's long-term vision involves expanding its AI solutions beyond fashion to other consumer goods sectors that can benefit from sustainability-focused technological advancements.