Jan 13, 2025
AI-powered robots: Jeff Bezos’ bold new venture
Posted by Genevieve Klien in categories: innovation, robotics/AI
Jeff Bezos, the billionaire founder of Amazon, has always been a visionary investor, known for his early stakes in companies like Airbnb and Uber. In 2024, Bezos has turned his attention to a new frontier: AI-powered robotics. This bold move signifies a major shift as Bezos bets on the next wave of technological innovation, aiming to revolutionize industries and everyday life.
In April of last year, Marko Bjelonic, co-founder and CEO of Swiss-Mile, a Zurich-based robotics company, reached out to Bezos with a detailed proposal—an Amazon-style “6-Pager”—to pitch his company’s vision. Bjelonic recalls, “I was pleasantly surprised by Jeff’s patience and relaxed demeanor.” What was initially a planned 30-minute call extended to an hour, feeling more like a conversation than a formal interview.
This meeting led Bezos to co-lead a $22 million funding round for Swiss-Mile in August. Swiss-Mile is developing AI-driven robots that resemble headless dogs with wheels instead of feet, designed to deliver packages autonomously. These robots are currently undergoing trials on Zurich’s streets, marking a significant step towards commercial deployment. According to Bjelonic, “Our goal is to see these robots reliably deliver packages from point A to point B, enhancing efficiency and reducing human labor.”