‘Copycat’: Elon Musk claps back as Jeff Bezos launches $6.2 billion AI rival

Jeff Bezos is making a serious comeback. He is reportedly stepping into an executive role as co-CEO of a stealth-mode AI startup called Project Prometheus, which has already raised a staggering $6.2 billion.

The company, co-led by Bezos and Vik Bajaj (formerly of Google X), aims to build AI for manufacturing sectors including computers, aerospace and automotive. It is Bezos’ first hands-on role since he stepped down as Amazon CEO in 2021.

Musk’s takedown: Calling Bezos a ‘copycat’

Elon Musk

didn’t mince words. On X, he responded to news of Prometheus with, “Haha no way … Copy 🐈” (sic). Musk publicly accused Bezos of copying his AI ambitions, a familiar refrain. Musk’s company, xAI, is already a heavyweight in generative AI.

This is not the first time that the Tesla/SpaceX boss has used that jab. Back in 2020, he called Bezos a “copycat” when Amazon acquired the autonomous vehicle firm Zoox.

What is Project Prometheus?

Despite being secretive about its operations, Prometheus appears to be more than just a vanity play. According to reports, the startup will focus on AI-driven automation for physical industries, targeting how manufacturing, robotics and engineering can be transformed.

It is not all hype as Prometheus has already hired nearly 100 employees, drawing talent from OpenAI, DeepMind and Meta. For Bezos, it is a logical extension of his long-term vision of combining space ambitions (via Blue Origin) with advanced AI to reshape how work is done, both on Earth and potentially beyond.

Bezos warns: This AI boom could be an ‘industrial bubble’

Bezos has admitted that the AI surge looks a lot like a bubble but he is framing it as a potentially productive one.

At a recent tech event, he called it an “industrial bubble” and argued that many funded experiments may fail but the long-term payoff could benefit humanity. His point: while investors may overinflate early ideas, the foundational innovations could lead to “gigantic” societal gains.

Why Musk’s dig is more than just petty banter

Musk’s reaction is not just trolling, it is symbolic of the larger AI arms race. His company xAI has already raised billions and is vying for supremacy in the AI landscape.

By calling Bezos a “copycat”, Musk is framing Prometheus, not just as competition but as a mimic and an attempt to catch up to his own vision.

The big tech chessboard just got more crowded

With Project Prometheus, Bezos is re-entering the front lines of the AI battle with serious firepower. If his vision pays off, this could reshape manufacturing and physical automation, not just software.Musk’s jibe may be cutting but it also underlines how high the stakes are. In 2025, AI is not just about chatbots anymore, it is about real-world machines, space and the next industrial revolution.