Jeff Bezos launched Project Prometheus, a startup targeting 'physical AI,' according to the research audit underpinning this report. Co-led by Bezos and the scientist Vik Bajaj, the venture aims to build an 'artificial general engineer' capable of automating the design, simulation, and manufacturing of aerospace systems, semiconductors, and heavy industrial equipment.

The thesis marked a deliberate departure from the field's focus on language and digital generation. Where incumbent labs chased chatbots and code, Prometheus set out to apply learned world models to atoms — manufacturing, materials, and machines.

The company launched with roughly $6.2 billion and quickly acquired an agentic-AI startup to strengthen its video-language-action capabilities, signaling an intent to scale fast and buy where it could not build.

If it succeeds, Prometheus would extend the AI super-cycle from software into the industrial economy — the largest and most stubborn frontier of automation.