Jeff Bezos, the founder of Amazon, has made a significant return to the company, dedicating an impressive 95% of his time to advancing artificial intelligence (AI) initiatives. This renewed focus comes just three years after he stepped down as CEO in 2021 to concentrate on his space venture, Blue Origin. Speaking at the DealBook Summit, Bezos expressed his deep emotional connection to Amazon, stating, "My heart is in Amazon, my curiosity is in Amazon, and my fears are there, and my love is there." This statement underscores his enduring commitment to the company he founded three decades ago and highlights the pivotal role that AI will play in Amazon's future.

Under Bezos's guidance, Amazon is currently developing over 1,000 internal AI applications aimed at enhancing its services and operations. A cornerstone of this initiative is a partnership with Anthropic, an AI startup in which Amazon recently invested $8 billion. Together, they are constructing a cutting-edge supercomputer designed to support a multimodal AI model capable of processing images, video, and text simultaneously. This ambitious project reflects Amazon's strategy to remain competitive against industry giants like Google, Microsoft, and OpenAI in the rapidly evolving AI landscape. Bezos's hands-on approach signals a strategic pivot for Amazon as it seeks to assert itself as a leader in artificial intelligence.

Bezos's involvement in Amazon's AI initiatives mirrors a broader trend among tech founders returning to their companies to steer AI-focused strategies. Similar to Google's Larry Page and Sergey Brin, who returned to assist with AI developments after stepping back from day-to-day operations, Bezos's return signifies the increasing importance of AI in shaping the future of technology. As executive chairman, he continues to support current CEO Andy Jassy and the leadership team while actively participating in strategic decisions that could define Amazon's trajectory in the tech industry.

Despite stepping back from his role as CEO, Bezos has not abandoned his other ventures. He remains optimistic about Blue Origin's potential while recognizing that it is still developing. At the DealBook Summit, he predicted that Blue Origin could eventually surpass Amazon in success but acknowledged that it is "not a very good business yet." His commitment to both Amazon and Blue Origin illustrates his dual focus on advancing technology both on Earth and beyond. As Bezos reinvests his time and energy into Amazon's AI efforts, he aims to position the company favorably amidst fierce competition and capitalize on the transformative potential of artificial intelligence across various sectors.