Jeff Bezos, the founder of Amazon, is returning to an executive leadership position for the first time since leaving his role as the e-commerce giant’s CEO. He has appointed himself co-chief executive of a newly launched artificial intelligence startup, identified as Project Prometheus.
The venture, which has reportedly secured over $6 billion in initial funding, will concentrate on developing AI applications for engineering and manufacturing sectors. Bezos will share leadership with co-founder and fellow co-CEO Vik Bajaj, a scientist and former executive from Google’s advanced projects division, X.
While operational details remain scarce, sources indicate the company has already assembled a team of approximately 100 employees, recruiting talent from leading AI firms. The specific location of its headquarters and the technical nature of its projects have not been disclosed.
Bezos’s move places him squarely within the intensely competitive and high-stakes AI industry, where significant capital is flowing to established players and new entrants alike. This expansion continues despite growing scrutiny from some financial analysts regarding the long-term economic viability of the current AI investment boom.
The launch marks a notable shift for Bezos, who has remained actively involved as the founder of aerospace company Blue Origin but has not held a formal C-suite title in recent years.