Jeff Bezos is making a surprising return to the business world, but this time it’s not at Amazon. He’s taking on the role of co-chief executive at a new AI startup called Project Prometheus. The company has already raised $6.2 billion, according to the New York Times, signaling that investors are placing big bets on this venture.
Bezos won’t be alone. He’s teaming up with Vik Bajaj, who once led Google’s life sciences division and co-founded Alphabet’s biotech venture Verily. Bajaj also helped start Foresite Labs, an AI-focused affiliate of Foresite Capital, before leaving to co-found Prometheus. The two bring a mix of experience and technical know-how that could give the startup a serious boost. For Bezos, it’s his first operational role since stepping down from Amazon in 2021.
Project Prometheus isn’t trying to create another chatbot or voice assistant. Its focus is what the company calls “AI for the physical economy.” In other words, it wants to use AI to solve real-world problems in engineering and manufacturing, from aerospace to automobiles and computing. By simulating physical systems, AI can test and refine designs faster, improve efficiency, and tackle challenges that could take months in the real world. Some people associate it with the Periodic Labs approach, where scientific research is accelerated by simulations using AI.
Even though the company is new, the team is already impressive. About 100 people have joined, including researchers from Meta, OpenAI, and Google DeepMind. Their expertise will be critical as Prometheus explores the practical applications of AI in industry.
Neither Bezos nor Bajaj has made a public statement yet, but the news has drawn a lot of attention. Analysts say this move shows that Bezos isn’t just focused on online retail anymore. He’s betting on AI to make a real impact in the physical world—factories, labs, and beyond.
Project Prometheus is now gaining a strong foothold in industrial AI, where generous investment, a capable team, and clear goals are driving it forward. For Bezos, this is a bold step into the future, one that aims to reshape industries that are directly connected to our everyday lives.
