Elon Musk mocks Jeff Bezos as ‘copycat’ after he joins AI fray with $6.2 billion startup
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA: Elon Musk has taken a fresh swipe at longtime rival Jeff Bezos, accusing him of being a “copycat” after reports revealed that the Amazon founder is re-entering the tech frontlines to lead a new artificial intelligence company, Project Prometheus.
The venture, which has already secured $6.2 billion in funding, marks Bezos’ first return to an executive role since stepping down as Amazon’s CEO in 2021. News of his comeback quickly drew Musk’s attention, prompting a mocking reaction on X.
Elon Musk calls Jeff Bezos a 'copycat' again!
Musk, who runs xAI and was an early supporter of OpenAI, responded to the report with clear amusement. “Haha no way,” he wrote on X, adding the word “copy” with a cat emoji.
His reaction was directed at revelations that Bezos will serve as co-CEO of Project Prometheus, alongside Vik Bajaj, co-founder of Verily and Foresite Labs. The New York Times, citing sources familiar with the project, reported that Bezos would be returning to a hands-on leadership role for the first time in nearly four years.
The jab continues a long-running rivalry between the two billionaires, with Musk previously accusing Bezos of imitating his ventures. He called him a “copycat” when Amazon announced plans to launch internet satellites that would compete with Musk’s SpaceX Starlink service, and again when Amazon acquired the autonomous vehicle company Zoox, a move seen as competing with Tesla.
Musk’s latest comment suggests he sees Bezos’ AI ambitions as yet another attempt to follow his lead.
Jeff Bezos returns to an executive role through Project Prometheus
Project Prometheus has already raised $6.2 billion in funding, with part of the investment coming directly from Bezos himself. This new role marks a significant shift for him after years spent focusing on philanthropy, Blue Origin, and other interests. Returning as co-CEO puts Bezos back into the center of one of the most competitive arenas in technology: artificial intelligence.
According to the company’s LinkedIn page, Project Prometheus will concentrate on “AI for the physical economy,” developing advanced tools that support engineering and manufacturing across sectors such as aerospace, computing, and automotive technology.
The startup has already built a team of more than 100 employees, including engineers and researchers recruited from top AI labs such as OpenAI, Meta, and Google DeepMind.
Bezos’ new venture intensifies an already fierce AI race that has dominated the tech landscape since the late-2022 rise of ChatGPT. With Meta, Google, and Microsoft betting heavily on AI, the entry of Project Prometheus, backed by one of the world’s most influential tech leaders, adds another major competitor to a rapidly evolving field.
