Most Innovative Companies

Anki

In 2010, graduates of Carnegie Mellon’s Robotics Institute formed Anki to create consumer entertainment experiences. Some six years later, the world was introduced to Cozmo, a cute, socially intelligent, vehicular robot that learns, evolves, and becomes more sophisticated with use. A recent upgrade to Anki’s Cozmo app lets kids control the robot with a drag-and-drop interface that transitions to real programming languages—a feature Anki hopes will encourage young kids to code and—who knows?—maybe go on to create a next-generation robot that makes Cozmo obsolete. In August 2018, Anki announced a new affordably priced robot, Vector, funded by a Kickstarter campaign that ended in early September with close to $1.9 million raised. Vector is a robot that feigns social awareness--a highly intelligent robot aware of his surroundings through touch, sight, and sound.

Lists

2015: Top 50, Gaming, Robotics

Data

headquarters: San Francisco, CA

Anki On The Web

https://www.anki.com

Stories about Anki

What failed startup Anki did for robotics

The generously funded robotics company failed in its master plan to gradually progress from cute toys to Rosie the Robot, but helped prime the world for innovations yet to come.

What failed startup Anki did for robotics

You can buy Anki’s Vector robot helper now

Fast Company Magazine

Anki’s best-selling toy bot just got a whole lot smarter

Robotics pioneer Anki boosted its cute toy bot with new level of artificial intelligence.

Anki’s best-selling toy bot just got a whole lot smarter

Amazon’s Alexa will ride along in Anki’s Vector robot

Most Creative People

Can emotional AI make Anki’s new robot into a lovable companion?

Known for its hyperactive toys, the company spent years developing technologies to tackle its greatest challenge yet–subtlety.

Can emotional AI make Anki’s new robot into a lovable companion?

The heads of Wieden+Kennedy’s groundbreaking tech division are leaving

Reddit’s First-Ever Interactive Livestream Stars A Very Lost Robot

Robotics startup Anki’s popular toy Cozmo is boldly rolling where marketers have long feared to tread for a bold campaign from Wieden+Kennedy Lodge.

Reddit’s First-Ever Interactive Livestream Stars A Very Lost Robot

How “Minority Report” Designer Helped Create The Toy Car Of The Future

When the engineers behind Anki began designing their robotic toy cars, they turned to a well-known Hollywood designer for help.

How “Minority Report” Designer Helped Create The Toy Car Of The Future

Impact

BP wants to become the world’s largest renewables producer (but still pump a lot of oil)

This mobile game lets you build ecosystems that will help solve real-world ecological problems

What if Central Park were home to a massive urban farm?

Creativity

11 jaw-dropping moments from Trump’s flabbergasting ‘Axios’ interview

Yeti is auctioning off coolers customized by your favorite bands for COVID-19 relief

Ryan Reynolds on ‘Deadpool,’ diversity, and the secrets of successful marketing

Co.Design

How creativity can help us navigate COVID-19: Lessons from the 19th century

Companies use cookies to get you to buy more stuff. Could it have the opposite effect?

Scientists are growing psychedelic cotton in the lab

Work Life

The 5 ways founding a startup prepared me for the pandemic

How to preserve your work culture beyond free snacks and unlimited vacation

The most genius founders can also be erratic CEOs. Here’s how to fix that