Amazon founder Jeff Bezos is reportedly returning to an operational role, taking on duties as co-chief executive of a new artificial intelligence startup, Project Prometheus. The venture, which has already secured a substantial $6.2 billion in funding, marks Bezos's first direct involvement in a startup since stepping away from Amazon in 2021, according to The New York Times.
Bezos will share the co-CEO position with Vik Bajaj, a seasoned executive with a strong background in life sciences and AI. Bajaj previously led and co-founded Google's life sciences division and was a co-founder of Verily, an Alphabet-owned biotech startup. He also co-founded Foresite Labs, an AI-focused affiliate of investment firm Foresite Capital, though reports indicate he recently departed Foresite Labs to launch Project Prometheus.
Project Prometheus aims to develop AI products specifically for engineering and manufacturing across diverse sectors, including computers, aerospace, and automobiles. Its LinkedIn page states a focus on "AI for the physical economy." The New York Times report suggests its work will be similar to that of Periodic Labs, which uses physical world simulations to train AI models, thereby accelerating scientific research.
The startup has already assembled a formidable team of nearly 100 staff members, including researchers previously affiliated with leading AI firms such as Meta, OpenAI, and Google DeepMind. Neither Amazon nor Vik Bajaj immediately responded to requests for comment regarding the announcement.
