Jeff Bezos is returning to a leadership role for the first time since leaving Amazon in 2021, launching a new artificial intelligence company called Project Prometheus – a startup that has reportedly already secured $6.2 billion in early-stage funding.
According to the New York Times, the new company will be co-led by Bezos and Vik Bajaj, a former senior executive at Google. The move marks Bezos’ most ambitious foray into AI to date, adding to a portfolio that already includes space exploration company Blue Origin.
The focus of the Prometheus project is to develop AI systems to support demanding engineering and manufacturing tasks in sectors such as aerospace, computing and automotive technology. The company has reportedly hired nearly 100 employees, including senior talent from OpenAI, Meta, DeepMind and other leading AI labs.
If confirmed, the $6.2 billion raised – including contributions from Bezos himself – would make Project Prometheus one of the most heavily funded startups in the world, although it has not yet officially launched or provided detailed financial disclosures.
The company is entering an increasingly crowded and competitive AI landscape. Established giants like Alphabet and Microsoft-backed OpenAI dominate the sector, while a growing number of well-funded challengers are trying to carve out a niche in next-generation AI models and platforms.
The recent surge in AI valuations has sparked fears that the sector is overheating. Sir Nick Clegg, Meta’s president of global affairs and former deputy prime minister of the UK, recently warned that some AI valuations were “bangers” and vulnerable to corrections, drawing parallels to the dotcom bubble.
However, Bezos has argued that current conditions, even if they resemble a “bubble,” will likely be a positive one. At a technology conference in Turin in October, he said AI investments would fuel an “industrial bubble” rather than a financial bubble.
“When the dust settles and you see who the winners are, society benefits from these inventions,” he said. “The benefits of AI for society will be gigantic.”
Representatives for Bezos have not publicly commented on the reports.
