Alphabet X’s latest spinout brings computer vision and AI to salmon farms

Over the course of Alphabet X’s existence, the self-proclaimed “moonshot factory” has been notable for the variety in both its technological solutions and the problems it’s attempting to solve. The combination research facility/accelerator has produced balloons for rural internet and energy-producing kites.

Tidal, which quietly spun out of the department in mid-July, has its own grand ambitions to “feed humanity sustainably.” It’s big and abstract as goals go, so the newly minted company is beginning life by focusing on one specific element: salmon aquaculture.

According to the World Wildlife Foundation, “Salmon aquaculture is the fastest-growing food production system in the world, accounting for 70% (2.5 million metric tons) of the market.”

Based in Trondheim, Norway, by way of Mountain View, Tidal takes a very Googley approach to the industry. A combination of sensors, robotics, data science and AI is designed to give farmers a fuller picture of their harvests. The system monitors the fish and offers yield estimates and is designed to catch potential issues — like sea lice — before they do serious damage.

The company has already been in Australia, Chile and Norway, working alongside farmers. At present, Tidal has 230 systems deployed in Norway.

“In an industry where the largest environmental and economic cost is feed, Tidal empowers fish farmers around the world to make more sustainable decisions,” X head Astro Teller said in a post tied to the news. “Now that Tidal is well on the way to commercializing its technology, it’s graduating to become an independent company, with backing from financial and strategic partners who share our vision.”

A rep for Tidal told TechCrunch that a spinout has always been part of the plan. Following headcount cuts to the secretive organization, Alphabet has started tightening the belt on its “other bets.” In recent months, robot agriculture firm Mineral was converted into a licensing project, having recently sold a technology suite to John Deere. Assisted clothing firm Skip spun out last month.

Alphabet’s connection post-spinout varies from company to company. In the case of Tidal, the tech giant remains a minority owner, and the startup has begun to pursue external funding as well. Perry Creek Capital led its most recent round, with support from Ichthus Venture Capital and Futurum Ventures. It has not disclosed a dollar amount.

Tidal says it’s currently in “full growth mode,” with plans to double or triple the systems it has deployed over the next couple of years.