Project Prometheus

Amazon founder Jeff Bezos is reportedly returning to a hands-on leadership role for the first time since stepping down from Amazon in 2021. According to The New York Times, Bezos is taking on the role of co-CEO at a new artificial intelligence startup called Project Prometheus, a company he is also helping fund. The startup has already secured a massive $6.2 billion in backing, signaling its ambition to become a major force in the next era of AI. Bezos Joins Forces With Veteran AI and Biotech Leader Vik Bajaj Bezos will share the top role with Vik Bajaj, a seasoned tech and biotech executive. Bajaj previously led Google’s life sciences division, co-founded Alphabet’s health-focused company Verily, and helped launch Foresite Labs, an AI-driven research affiliate. The report notes Bajaj recently left Foresite Labs specifically to focus on building Prometheus. For Bezos, this marks a significant return to operations after years of focusing on space exploration, philanthropy, and higher-level strategic roles. Building AI for the Physical World Project Prometheus is positioning itself as an AI powerhouse focused on advancing the physical economy—industries like aerospace, automotive, energy, and advanced computer engineering. The company’s LinkedIn page highlights its mission as creating AI systems capable of understanding and simulating real-world physics. According to the report, its work is expected to resemble companies like Periodic Labs, which develop AI models capable of accelerating scientific discovery by mimicking real-world environments. A Team Stacked With AI Talent The startup has already assembled a team of nearly 100 specialists, including researchers and engineers with experience from top AI labs such as OpenAI, Meta, and Google DeepMind. With such a lineup — and billions in funding — Prometheus is signaling its intent to compete at the highest level of the AI industry. A New Chapter in the AI Arms Race Bezos’ involvement adds significant weight to the rapidly expanding AI race, especially as major players like OpenAI, Google, Anthropic, and xAI push toward new frontiers. His return also suggests a growing belief that AI’s next breakthroughs will happen at the intersection of software, hardware, and the physical sciences. As Project Prometheus accelerates development, the tech world will be watching closely to see how Bezos’ leadership shapes this ambitious new venture.