Jeff Bezos returns as CEO for Prometheus AI startup, now valued at $41 billion after new funding

Why Jeff Bezos says he's embraced being a CEO again: It's a 'Type 2 fun' kind of job

Seven months after announcing his return to the C-suite to launch artificial intelligence startup Prometheus, Jeff Bezos is opening up about being in the top spot again. The 62-year-old billionaire says that being a co-CEO, alongside co-founder Vik Bajaj, is "Type 2 fun," he told CNBC's David Faber on "Squawk on the Street" on Thursday. "It's that fun where, after you finish climbing the mountain, you're like, 'Oh boy, that was fun climbing the mountain.'" Running Prometheus -- which works to build AI models for physical tasks, including a current project to help engineers make physical products more quickly and easily, said Bezos -- is the entrepreneur's first formal operational role since stepping down as CEO from Amazon in 2021. Bezos co-founded Amazon in 1994, and launched space technology company Blue Origin in 2000. He still spends time working at or advising all three companies, he said. "It is a grind, but it's a good grind," said Bezos. "Prometheus is the bulk of my time. I'm also spending a lot of time on Blue [Origin]. I'm spending a lot of time on AI at Amazon. So the common thread in my time spent is mostly AI." DON'T MISS: The communication skill that can help you accelerate your career growth Prometheus launched with $6.2 billion in funding, and announced a $12 billion funding round on Thursday, valuing the company at $41 billion. Bezos and Bijaj, an adjunct professor of radiology at Stanford University School of Medicine and a serial life-sciences business executive, "don't really divide responsibilities" as co-CEOs, Bezos added. "We're talking to each other multiple times a day ... We're both involved in all of the decisions really," he said. "It's not like it's, 'OK. You handle this half of the company and I'll handle this half.' We're tight at the hip. We're both jacks of all trades." In a way, Bezos bucked a trend by returning to a CEO role. Multiple high-profile chief executives within the last year have stepped down while citing the rise of AI, saying it was time for a different leader to spearhead their company's transition into the new technological era. "With what's happening with AI, I could start this next big set of transformations with AI, but I couldn't finish," ex-Walmart CEO Doug McMillon told CNBC's "Squawk Box" on December 9. "About a year ago, I really started feeling like this next run, you could see what agentic commerce was going to look like, the vision for AI shopping, and I started thinking about everything that needs to happen over the next few years, and it really caused me to think that now was the right time [to step down]," Bezos, for his part, expressed excitement for the "many miles" of hard work ahead of him. "I started out in late '24 with Vik as an investor in Prometheus ... and as I saw what we were doing, I became so impressed by what was happening, and the potential, that I decided I couldn't sit on the sidelines, and I needed to jump in with both feet. So here I am," he said. Want to get ahead at work? Then you need to learn how to make effective small talk. In CNBC's new online course, How To Talk To People At Work, expert instructors share practical strategies to help you use everyday conversations to gain visibility, build meaningful relationships and accelerate your career growth. Sign up today!

Jeff Bezos Came Out Of Retirement For This $41 Billion AI Bet -- He Explains Why He Couldn't 'Sit On The Si

Jeff Bezos said that he has embraced being a CEO again at AI startup Prometheus, describing the role as "Type 2 fun," the kind you appreciate only after the climb is over. Back In the Driver's Seat Prometheus, a developer of AI models designed for physical tasks such as engineering and product development, launched with $6.2 billion in funding. On Thursday, the company announced a new $12 billion funding round, bringing its valuation to $41 billion. While Others Step Aside, Bezos Steps Up Photo Courtesy: Shutterstock Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors. Market News and Data brought to you by Benzinga APIs To add Benzinga News as your preferred source on Google, click here.