According to the New York Times, Jeff Bezos is stepping back into a hands-on role as co-chief executive at the new AI start-up called Project Prometheus.
The company is entering the field with enormous financial backing and a huge focus on advanced engineering.
Project Prometheus is launching with $6.2 billion in early funding, and Bezos is one of the major contributors.
Several people familiar with the company confirmed the amount, though the start-up has not shared details publicly.
This level of funding is rare. It places Prometheus among the best-financed young AI companies in the world.
It also shows how strongly Bezos wants to re-enter the center of the tech industry. He has not held an operational role since he stepped down from Amazon in 2021.
While he plays an active part at Blue Origin, he does not hold a formal executive title there.
Engineering
The company plans to build AI technology that helps engineers work faster. It will focus on areas like aerospace, automotive design, and advanced computer hardware.
This mission aligns with Bezos’s personal interest in space, evidenced by years spent advocating for tools that make space travel more accessible.
Because of that, AI that improves spacecraft design fits well with his goals.
The company has not announced where it will be based, and has also kept its early work quiet.
Leadership
Bezos will run Project Prometheus with Vik Bajaj, a physicist and chemist. Bajaj has a long history in scientific research.
He previously worked at Google X, the innovation lab known for daring experimental projects. While there, he worked closely with Google co-founder Sergey Brin.
Google X developed high-profile efforts such as Wing’s drone delivery program and the self-driving car that became Waymo.
Bajaj later helped found Verily, Alphabet’s life sciences division. After that, he co-founded Foresite Labs, which supports new A.I. and data science ventures.
He recently left that role to focus fully on Prometheus.
Competition
Project Prometheus joins a crowded field. Companies of all sizes are racing to create powerful AI tools. Major players include OpenAI, Google DeepMind, Meta, and Microsoft.
These groups have built systems that solve math problems, write code, and assist with scientific studies. DeepMind researchers even earned a Nobel Prize in Chemistry for their work on AlphaFold, which analyzes the structure of proteins.
Despite these advances, new labs want to go further. They aim to create A.I. that understands the physical world, not just text.
Teaching AI
Most AI models learn from human text. They read millions of documents and find patterns in words and ideas.
However, that strategy only teaches them about information humans have already recorded.
New laboratories want AI to learn through real experiments. They want robots to test materials, run chemical reactions, and study physical changes.
Then the AI can learn from those results. An example is Periodic Labs, a facility in Northern California where robots will perform nonstop scientific tests.
AI systems will analyze the results and improve their understanding of physics and chemistry.
People familiar with Project Prometheus say it plans similar work. The company may combine robotics, physical testing, and advanced models to speed up scientific discovery.
A High-Level Team
Project Prometheus already has nearly 100 employees. Many come from leading AI groups such as OpenAI, DeepMind, and Meta.
This hiring pattern shows the company’s ambition and the scale of its goals. Other start-ups are raising large sums too.
For example, Thinking Machines Lab secured $2 billion earlier this year. Still, Prometheus stands apart because it has more than triple that amount at launch.
Next Steps
Project Prometheus remains early in its development and has not shared product plans or timelines.
Even so, the company already has significant attention because of its leadership team, scientific expertise, and financial strength.
Project Prometheus aims to greatly affect engineering, manufacturing, and scientific research..
Its work may influence how new materials, vehicles, and technologies are created in the years ahead.
