Jeff Bezos's AI startup Prometheus raises $12 billion（約1.9兆円） at a $41 billion（約6.6兆円） valuation, signaling a shift toward applying AI to physical manufacturing rather than software alone.

What happened: Prometheus, the AI startup led by Bezos and Google veteran Vik Bajaj, closed a $12 billion（約1.9兆円） funding round at a $41 billion（約6.6兆円） valuation. The round was backed by JPMorgan Chase, Goldman Sachs, BlackRock, and Bezos himself. The company currently has about 150 employees and is focused on developing AI models and tools for engineering and manufacturing physical products, targeting industries such as computing and aerospace.

Why it matters: This move reflects Bezos's broader push into AI after stepping down as Amazon CEO in 2021. The funding underscores that major institutional investors — major banks and asset managers — see value in AI applied to physical industries, not just software. It also fits Bezos's strategy of building multiple AI ventures alongside Blue Origin, suggesting he is positioning himself as a major player in the AI race across multiple domains.

What to watch: Prometheus has also sought to raise tens of billions of dollars, possibly more, for a holding company that plans to buy firms outright if they are seen as benefiting from the technologies the lab is developing. This signals the company's ambition to scale beyond its current 150-person operation into a larger investment and acquisition vehicle.