Jeff Bezos reportedly returns to the trenches as co-CEO of new AI startup, Project Prometheus

Jeff Bezos, the founder of Amazon, is making a significant return to the tech world by stepping into the role of co-CEO at a new AI startup named Project Prometheus. This venture has successfully secured an impressive $6.2 billion in funding, as reported by the New York Times, which cites multiple sources familiar with the initiative. Bezos will be sharing the leadership position with Vik Bajaj, who has an extensive background in the tech industry, having previously co-led Google’s life sciences division. Bajaj is also one of the founders of Verily, a biotech company under Alphabet, and has recently transitioned from Foresite Labs, an investment firm focused on AI, to focus on Prometheus. This marks Bezos's first return to operational leadership since he stepped down from his day-to-day role at Amazon in 2021. Project Prometheus aims to develop AI solutions tailored for engineering and manufacturing sectors, covering areas such as computing, aerospace, and automotive industries. According to information on the company's LinkedIn page, the startup is dedicated to harnessing "AI for the physical economy" and aims to create products that enhance efficiency in these fields. The startup is already making strides, boasting a growing team of nearly 100 employees, which includes researchers hailing from prominent AI organizations like Meta, OpenAI, and Google DeepMind. As the project unfolds, both Amazon and Bajaj have yet to provide further comments on the initiative.