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Struggling shoemaker Allbirds (BIRD) has just delivered quite a surprising market move. On Apr. 15, the stock erupted in a jaw-dropping rally after the company revealed a headline-grabbing plan to completely reinvent itself, not as a footwear brand, but as an artificial intelligence (AI) player aiming to future-proof its business. This is the same company that once stood at the forefront of sustainable fashion, winning over consumers with eco-friendly materials like merino wool and eucalyptus fibers.
But that momentum didn’t last. In recent years, sales have slid sharply, forcing the company into a painful reset that ultimately led to the closure of its last full-priced U.S. stores in February, a clear signal that its original model was running out of steam. Now, in a bold bid to rewrite its future, Allbirds is effectively starting from scratch. Rebranding itself as NewBird AI, the company is abandoning its roots in footwear to chase opportunities in AI, a move that feels equal parts ambitious and desperate.