Jeff Bezos is leading a new AI startup called Project Prometheus, which aligns with his current interests in space and engineering, according to The New York Times. The company, which has not yet been publicly announced, is reportedly backed by $6. 2 billion in funding, with Bezos himself contributing part of this amount and serving as co-CEO. Project Prometheus aims to develop AI systems that acquire knowledge from the physical world rather than merely processing digital data, unlike AI chatbots. Specifically, the company intends to investigate how AI can enhance engineering and manufacturing in sectors such as vehicles and space technology. Bezos, who founded the space technology firm Blue Origin over twenty years ago, recently saw the company’s New Glenn rocket complete a successful second flight.

Joining Bezos as co-founder and co-CEO is Vik Bajaj, a physicist and chemist with prior experience at Google X, where he worked on projects such as Wing and the development of Waymo. In 2018, Bajaj co-founded Foresite Labs, an organization that supports entrepreneurs in AI and data science. He is still listed as CEO of Foresite Labs on both the company’s website and his LinkedIn profile, which also reflects his new roles at Project Prometheus. Bajaj indicates that his involvement with the startup began this month and notes its locations as San Francisco, London, and Zurich.