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

Over the years, Alphabet X—famously known as the “moonshot factory”—has been a trailblazer in pushing the boundaries of technology, crafting bold solutions to some of the world’s most pressing challenges. From balloons that deliver internet to remote areas to energy-generating kites, the innovations emerging from this combination research facility and accelerator have been nothing short of groundbreaking.

Enter Tidal, the latest venture to emerge from Alphabet X’s inventive ecosystem. Quietly spun out in mid-July, Tidal is setting its sights on a lofty mission: to “feed humanity sustainably.” While the goal may sound grand and abstract, the newly independent company is starting with a very specific focus—transforming the salmon aquaculture industry.

Salmon aquaculture, according to the World Wildlife Foundation, is the fastest-growing food production system globally, representing a staggering 70% (2.5 million metric tons) of the market. It’s an industry ripe for innovation, and Tidal is poised to bring it into the 21st century with a distinctly “Googley” approach.

Headquartered in Trondheim, Norway, but rooted in Mountain View, California, Tidal combines sensors, robotics, data science, and artificial intelligence to provide fish farmers with a comprehensive view of their operations. The company’s advanced systems monitor salmon in real-time, delivering precise yield estimates and identifying potential threats—such as sea lice—before they can cause significant harm.

Already, Tidal has made its presence felt in the salmon farming hubs of Chile, Brazil, and Norway, with 230 systems currently deployed across Norwegian farms. The technology is empowering farmers to make more informed, sustainable decisions, particularly in an industry where feed costs are the largest economic and environmental burden.

“In an industry where the largest environmental and economic cost is feed, Tidal empowers fish farmers around the world to make more sustainable decisions,” Astro Teller, head of X, said in a blog post announcing the spinout. “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.”

The spinout of Tidal has been in the works for some time, according to company representatives. Alphabet has recently been streamlining its operations, particularly within its “other bets” division, following headcount reductions across the organization. The move to spin out Tidal follows similar steps taken with other Alphabet X projects—such as the conversion of the robot agriculture firm Mineral into a licensing project and the spinout of assisted clothing firm Skip just last month.

While Alphabet’s involvement with its spinout companies varies, the tech giant retains a minority stake in Tidal, which is also seeking external funding to fuel its growth. Perry Creek Capital led the latest funding round, with participation from Ichthus Venture Capital and Futurum Ventures, though the amount raised remains undisclosed.

Tidal is now in “full growth mode,” with ambitious plans to double or even triple the number of systems deployed over the next few years. With the backing of industry experts and a vision to revolutionize salmon farming, Tidal is well on its way to making a significant impact on global food sustainability.