Jeff Bezos Returns as CEO of New Venture
▼ Summary
– Jeff Bezos is returning to a CEO role as co-CEO of a new AI company called Project Prometheus after not holding such a position since 2021.
– The company will focus on applying AI to breakthroughs in research, engineering, manufacturing, and other areas of the physical economy.
– Project Prometheus distinguishes itself by working on physical applications of AI rather than the software applications commonly associated with the technology.
– Bezos’ co-CEO is Dr. Vik Bajaj, a chemist and physicist with extensive experience in leading research at Alphabet-backed organizations.
– Dr. Bajaj previously led life sciences work at Google X and has also worked at Verily and Foresite Labs, bringing significant expertise to the venture.
Jeff Bezos is stepping back into an executive leadership position, taking on the role of co-CEO at a newly formed artificial intelligence company. This move marks his return to day-to-day management after stepping away from the top job at Amazon in 2021. According to a recent report, the information comes from three individuals with direct knowledge of the company’s plans.
The venture, ambitiously titled Project Prometheus, should not be confused with the NASA mission sharing its name. Its primary objective involves leveraging artificial intelligence to drive innovation within what it calls “the physical economy.” This focus sets it apart from the more common public perception of AI, which often centers on software and digital applications. Instead, the company will concentrate on achieving significant advances in research, engineering, manufacturing, and other tangible industrial sectors.
Joining Bezos as co-CEO is Dr. Vik Bajaj, a scientist with a background in chemistry and physics. Dr. Bajaj brings considerable experience from his previous role leading life sciences initiatives at Google X. This well-known Alphabet-supported research division specialized in exploratory projects with the potential to create entirely new product lines; it was responsible for developing foundational technologies for ventures like Waymo. His professional history also includes key positions at Verily, another Alphabet-affiliated life sciences research organization, and Foresite Labs, an incubator dedicated to nurturing emerging AI-focused businesses.
(Source: Ars Technica)
