Amazon founder Jeff Bezos is set to return to hands-on leadership for the first time in four years as he takes charge of a new artificial intelligence venture backed by $6.2 billion in funding, according to a report on Monday.
The New York Times, citing individuals familiar with the development, revealed that the company—currently known as Project Prometheus—will concentrate on using AI to transform engineering and manufacturing across sectors such as computing, aerospace, and automotive technology.
Bezos will lead the venture as co-chief executive alongside Vik Bajaj, a well-known Silicon Valley researcher with a background in Google’s X lab, where he worked with co-founder Sergey Brin. Bajaj also co-founded the life sciences research unit Verily, bringing significant expertise to the new initiative. This marks Bezos’s first official executive role since he stepped down as Amazon’s CEO in July 2021.
Since leaving Amazon’s top position, the billionaire has dedicated time to his aerospace company, Blue Origin, while also drawing public attention for his personal life, including a high-profile wedding in Venice earlier this year. In addition, Bezos has taken on a more visible alignment with the Trump administration, attending the president’s inauguration in January and directing pro-business changes to the editorial stance of the Washington Post, the newspaper he owns.
Project Prometheus enters a fast-expanding AI landscape dominated by major technology firms such as Google, Meta and Microsoft, as well as front-running developers like OpenAI and Anthropic. The New York Times reported that the new company has already built a workforce nearing 100 employees, including researchers drawn from leading AI laboratories.
The venture reflects a broader movement toward integrating AI into physical tasks, frequently involving robotics. Unlike generative AI—such as the technology powering “ChatGPT”—Project Prometheus aims to build systems that learn through real-world experimentation rather than relying solely on digital content. The goal, according to the report, is to speed up scientific advancement in fields including physics, chemistry and engineering by creating AI that interacts directly with the physical world.
What you should know
Project Prometheus marks a significant return for Jeff Bezos to active corporate leadership, combining his long-standing interest in technology with a major investment in next-generation AI.
The venture’s focus on real-world experimentation suggests an effort to expand AI’s capabilities beyond text-based models toward deeper scientific and industrial innovation.
