Jeff Bezos's Project Prometheus nears $10B funding at $38B valuation to develop physical AI

Jeff Bezos's secretive AI startup, Project Prometheus, is nearing the close of a massive $10 billion funding round that would value the company at around $38 billion, according to reports from the Financial Times and multiple outlets. Launched just five months ago in November 2025 with an initial $6.2 billion in seed capital, the San Francisco-based lab has rapidly expanded to over 120 employees, drawing top talent from leading AI firms like OpenAI, xAI, Meta, and DeepMind.

The funding round, backed by heavyweights including BlackRock and JPMorgan, underscores the explosive investor appetite for AI ventures focused on real-world applications. As reported by Business Insider and Bloomberg, Project Prometheus specializes in developing AI models that understand the physical world, reasoning about the laws of physics to tackle challenges in engineering, manufacturing, aerospace, robotics, drug discovery, and logistics. Co-CEO Vikram Bajaj, a former Google X scientist and co-founder of Foresite Labs, leads the effort alongside technical co-founders Sherjil Ozair and William Guss.

This deal positions Project Prometheus as one of the most richly valued early-stage startups globally, highlighting Bezos's aggressive push into AI beyond his Amazon empire. The startup's emphasis on "physical AI" — systems that learn through real-world interactions — could transform industries reliant on precise simulations and automation, from factory floors to pharmaceutical labs. Investors see potential in proprietary data loops, with the company reportedly planning a separate $100 billion investment vehicle to acquire data-rich firms in architecture, engineering, and construction, feeding industrial datasets back into its models, as noted by The Wall Street Journal.

While the funding is expected to finalize soon, representatives from Prometheus, BlackRock, and JPMorgan have declined to comment, leaving some details unconfirmed. For employees, partners, and competitors in the AI race, this move signals intensifying competition, as Bezos leverages his resources to challenge frontrunners like OpenAI. What happens next could reshape physical industries, with Prometheus's growth trajectory suggesting rapid deployment of its models in high-stakes sectors.