Jeff Bezos, who stepped down as Amazon CEO over three years ago, has revealed he’s dedicating the vast majority of his time to helping Amazon compete in the rapidly evolving artificial intelligence race. Speaking at The New York Times’s DealBook conference on Wednesday, the billionaire disclosed that 95% of his current work at Amazon focuses on AI initiatives, as the company builds approximately 1,000 AI applications internally.
Despite transitioning to executive chairman in 2021, Bezos emphasized his continued deep involvement with the e-commerce and cloud computing giant he founded three decades ago. “My heart is in Amazon, my curiosity is in Amazon, and my fears are there and my love is there,” Bezos stated, adding that he’ll “always be there to help” the company navigate critical technological transitions.
Amazon’s ambitious AI strategy includes developing a sophisticated multimodal model capable of processing images, video, and text, according to recent reports from The Information. To support these computationally intensive AI ambitions, Amazon is constructing a supercomputer using proprietary chips in collaboration with Anthropic, the AI startup in which Amazon has invested a substantial $8 billion. This partnership aims to give Amazon a competitive edge against Big Tech rivals like Google, Microsoft, and Meta in the AI arms race.
Bezos’s return to active involvement mirrors a broader trend among tech founders re-engaging with their companies specifically for AI initiatives. Google co-founders Larry Page and Sergey Brin similarly returned to work on AI projects after leaving executive roles in 2019, reportedly triggered by the disruptive launch of OpenAI’s ChatGPT in 2022, which prompted Google management to issue a “code red” alert about threats to its search engine dominance.
The world’s second-richest man also discussed his other ventures, noting that while Blue Origin, his rocket company, is “not a very good business yet,” he predicts it will eventually surpass Amazon to become “the best business” he’s been involved in. Bezos originally cited his desire to focus on Blue Origin as the primary reason for stepping down as Amazon CEO in 2021, though his current time allocation suggests AI has become an equally pressing priority.
Bezos also stated he remains committed to ensuring the success of current Amazon CEO Andy Jassy and the leadership team, while expressing optimism about the incoming Trump administration’s second term.
Key Quotes
My heart is in Amazon, my curiosity is in Amazon, and my fears are there and my love is there. I’m never going to forget about Amazon. I’ll always be there to help, and right now, I’m putting a lot of time into it. I can help, and it’s super interesting, so why not?
Jeff Bezos explained his continued deep involvement with Amazon at the DealBook conference, emphasizing his emotional and intellectual commitment to the company he founded, particularly as it navigates the AI transformation.
95% of his time at Amazon is spent focusing on AI within the company, which he said is building 1,000 AI applications internally.
This statement reveals the extraordinary extent of Bezos’s current focus on artificial intelligence initiatives at Amazon, demonstrating how AI has become the company’s top strategic priority and requiring founder-level attention to compete effectively.
Our Take
Bezos’s return to Amazon specifically for AI work represents a watershed moment that validates AI as the defining technology battle of this decade. His 95% time allocation isn’t just about building products—it’s about ensuring Amazon doesn’t suffer the fate that befell companies that missed previous platform shifts. The $8 billion Anthropic investment and custom supercomputer development reveal Amazon’s recognition that AI infrastructure is as critical as the applications themselves. What’s particularly telling is the parallel with Google’s founders returning after ChatGPT’s launch—suggesting that generative AI caught even the most sophisticated tech companies off-guard. This founder-level mobilization across multiple tech giants indicates we’re witnessing a rare inflection point where established market positions can be disrupted, making AI competency an existential issue rather than just another product feature. Amazon’s 1,000 internal AI applications suggest the company understands AI must permeate every business function to deliver competitive advantage.
Why This Matters
Bezos’s return to active involvement at Amazon underscores the critical importance of AI as a competitive battleground for Big Tech companies. When one of the world’s wealthiest entrepreneurs dedicates 95% of his time to a single technology area, it signals that AI represents an existential opportunity—and threat—for even the most established tech giants.
Amazon’s development of 1,000 internal AI applications and its $8 billion investment in Anthropic demonstrate the massive scale of resources required to compete in the AI era. The company’s decision to build custom supercomputers using proprietary chips reflects a broader industry trend toward vertical integration in AI infrastructure, as companies seek to reduce dependence on third-party providers like Nvidia.
This story also highlights how AI is reshaping corporate leadership dynamics, with founders returning from semi-retirement to guide their companies through technological transitions. The parallel with Google’s Larry Page and Sergey Brin suggests that AI represents a paradigm shift significant enough to require founder-level attention and vision. For businesses across industries, this signals that AI adoption isn’t optional—it’s a strategic imperative that demands top-level commitment and substantial investment to remain competitive in the evolving digital economy.
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Source: https://www.businessinsider.com/jeff-bezos-amazon-ai-efforts-blue-origin-2024-12