April 20 (Reuters) – Jeff Bezos’ artificial intelligence lab is close to raising $10 billion in a new funding round, valuing the new startup called Project Prometheus at $38 billion, the Financial Times reported on Monday, citing sources.
The fundraising comes amid strong investor enthusiasm for AI companies as heavy technology spending reshapes businesses across sectors.
• JPMorgan and BlackRock are among the investors in the new round, the newspaper said, adding that the fundraising was expected to close soon but had not been finalized.
• The startup is focused on AI for engineering and manufacturing computers, automobiles and spacecraft, according to media reports.
• Amazon.com founder Bezos is among the initial investors in the venture and has been leading fundraising effort alongside co-chief executive Vikram Bajaj, the report said.
• BlackRock declined to comment. JPMorgan and the project’s co-founders, Sherjil Ozair and William Guss, did not immediately respond to Reuters’ requests for comment. Bezos could not be reached for comment.
(Reporting by Carlos Méndez in Mexico City; Editing by Subhranshu Sahu)
