Prometheus, a startup co-founded by Jeff Bezos and Vik Bajaj, has raised $12 billion to develop what it calls an 'artificial general engineer'—AI software designed to automate the creation of complex physical systems such as jet engines and pharmaceutical compounds. Backed by major investors including JPMorgan Chase, Goldman Sachs, and BlackRock, the company is valued at $41 billion after this round, making it one of the most valuable AI startups to date. The vision is to significantly reduce human labor in engineering by using AI to handle design and manufacturing processes.

Bezos argues that rather than causing mass unemployment, this leap in productivity will lead to 'labor scarcity'—a scenario where demand for skilled workers exceeds supply. This view contrasts with widespread concerns in the tech industry about AI-driven job displacement. He envisions a future where increased efficiency improves living standards, allowing households to maintain income with fewer working hours.

Currently employing 150 people across San Francisco, London, and Zurich, Prometheus has not disclosed technical details of its progress. A significant portion of the funding will support large-scale computing infrastructure. The company is part of a growing trend of investor interest in 'physical AI'—systems that interact with or create real-world objects—seen by some as more defensible than pure software due to the inherent complexity of the physical world.