Jeff Bezos is on the cusp of sealing one of the most eye-watering early-stage fundraisings the artificial intelligence sector has yet produced, with his nascent physical AI laboratory, Project Prometheus, reportedly closing in on a $10bn (£7.9bn) round that would value the venture at $38bn.
The Financial Times, citing people familiar with the matter, reported on Monday that BlackRock and JPMorgan are among the institutional heavyweights that have signed up to the round, though the transaction has yet to be finalised. BlackRock declined to comment. The fundraising, if completed at the mooted terms, would place Prometheus among the most richly valued early-stage AI businesses on the planet, less than six months after it emerged from stealth.
Launched quietly in November 2025 with $6.2bn of initial backing, Prometheus is chasing a very different thesis to the generative AI giants that have dominated the investment cycle since ChatGPT arrived in late 2022. Rather than training ever-larger language models on the internet’s text and imagery, it is building systems that can reason about the physical world itself, materials, tolerances, processes and the immutable laws of physics. The stated target markets are engineering, manufacturing, aerospace, robotics, drug discovery and logistics automation, sectors where large language models have, so far, made only glancing contact.
Running the show on a day-to-day basis is chief executive Vikram Bajaj, a former Google X scientist and co-founder of Foresite Labs. The lab has swelled to more than 120 staff, poached from the likes of OpenAI, xAI, Meta and DeepMind. Bezos, described as one of the initial backers, has been leading the fundraising alongside Bajaj, and, notably, has taken an operational role in the business. It is the first time the Amazon founder has rolled up his sleeves at a technology company since stepping down from the chief executive’s chair at the group he built in 2021.
The timing is striking. Prometheus’s raise is landing only days after Amazon itself committed up to $25bn of fresh investment in Anthropic, securing in return a $100bn cloud-spending pledge from the Claude-maker, a transaction that underlined quite how dramatically the scale of AI infrastructure deals has shifted. A $10bn round for a six-month-old laboratory would, for perspective, exceed the lifetime fundraising of most AI companies in existence.
Advertisement
Why are institutions the size of BlackRock and JPMorgan prepared to write cheques of that magnitude into an unproven venture? The answer lies in the peculiar economics of physical AI. Unlike the vast quantities of cheap, publicly available text and code that power today’s language models, the data needed to teach a machine how steel fatigues, how a drug molecule binds or how a robotic arm should pick a part is proprietary, scarce and devilishly expensive to gather at scale. That scarcity is itself a moat, and accumulating it early may confer a durable advantage on whichever laboratories manage it first.
For Britain’s small and mid-sized manufacturers, aerospace suppliers and life sciences specialists, many of whom already sit on decades of unique operational data, the emergence of a well-capitalised Bezos-backed laboratory is a development worth watching. If Prometheus delivers on its ambitions, the model for applying AI to the industrial economy will not be built on the back of scraped web pages but on partnerships with the firms that actually make, mend and move things.
That, of course, is a sizeable “if”. Prometheus has yet to publicly demonstrate a product, let alone a commercial deployment, and the lab remains firmly in its early phase. Plenty of sceptics will also point out that the broader AI market is wearing increasingly frothy valuations. Peter Fedoročko, chief technology officer at analytics firm GoodData, takes a measured view. “Yes, AI has a bubble, but the technology is real,” he argues. “When dot-com crashed, the internet didn’t disappear, it became infrastructure. The same thing happens here. The dot-com crash took a decade to recover financially, but the internet reshaped everything during that time. It didn’t wipe out jobs; it transformed them. AI follows the same pattern. Once the hype burns off, the real builders get back to work.”
For Bezos, the calculation is simpler. Having built the world’s largest logistics and cloud empire on the back of an earlier technological wave, he is now betting, in person and in size, that the next one will be written not in pixels and prose, but in physics.
Advertisement
Jamie Young
Jamie is Senior Reporter at Business Matters, bringing over a decade of experience in UK SME business reporting.
Jamie holds a degree in Business Administration and regularly participates in industry conferences and workshops.
When not reporting on the latest business developments, Jamie is passionate about mentoring up-and-coming journalists and entrepreneurs to inspire the next generation of business leaders.
Ahmedabad: The charisma of Prime Minister Narendra Modi is among the key factors most likely to influence voters in the ensuing Lok Sabha elections in Gujarat, according to political observers.
Lok Sabha polls in Gujarat will be held in a single phase on May 7. Counting of votes will be held on June 4. Anti-incumbency, unemployment, inflation, education and healthcare facilities are some of the other important issues in the election, where the ruling BJP in Gujarat will attempt to retain all the 26 Lok Sabha seats it won in 2019.
Gujarat is among the states which will play a crucial role in deciding the outcome of the elections to the Lower House of Parliament. In the 2014 and 2019 Lok Sabha elections, the Bharatiya Janata Party won all the 26 seats in the state.
Here are some issues that will play a decisive role in the elections in Gujarat:
PM Narendra Modi’s charisma: The ruling BJP has a trump card in the form of the prime minister, who hails from Gujarat and was its chief minister from 2001 to 2014 before occupying the top post of the country. His sway over the followers in his home state is still intact. Anti-incumbency: Observers feel that the opposition will try to take advantage of any anti-incumbency sentiment during the last 10 years of BJP rule at the Centre. They feel that “floating voters” who do not vote on the basis of ideology can be swayed by the opposition if they offer proper alternatives.
Advertisement
Live Events
Inflation: Low and middle-income households are the worst-affected in terms of the effects of inflation. So this will be a decisive factor considering how the price rise has impacted the lives of people in the last 10 years. The opposition has been constantly targeting the Modi government over this issue. Unemployment: This is another point that the opposition parties have been using to hit out at the Centre. Since this issue directly affects the lives of common people, this will be high on the mind of voters when they exercise their franchise. Lack of basic education and health facilities in remote areas: If school classrooms are constructed in remote rural areas, there is a dearth of teachers. The lack of primary health centres and doctors also adversely affects health services in rural pockets. Farmers’ issues: Issues like lack of adequate compensation for crop loss due to excess rains, non-availability of fertilisers and land acquisition for project development will also play a major role in affecting voter sentiment, the observers said.
Good day, and thank you for standing by. Welcome to the Vicor First Quarter 2026 Earnings Conference Call. [Operator Instructions] Please be advised that today’s conference is being recorded.
I would now like to hand the conference over to your speaker today, Jim Schmidt, Chief Financial Officer. Please go ahead.
Advertisement
James Schmidt Corporate VP, CFO, Treasurer, Corporate Secretary & Director
Thank you. Good morning, and welcome to Vicor Corporation’s Earnings Call for the first quarter ended March 31, 2026. I’m Jim Schmidt, Chief Financial Officer, and I’m in Andover with Patrizio Vinciarelli, Chief Executive Officer; and Phil Davies, Corporate Vice President, Global Sales and Marketing.
Earlier this morning, we issued a press release summarizing our financial results for the 3 months ended March 31, 2026. This press release has been posted on the Investor Relations page of our website, www.vicorpower.com. We also filed a Form 8-K today related to the issuance of this press release. I remind listeners this conference call is being recorded and is the copyrighted property of Vicor Corporation. I also remind you various remarks we make during this call may constitute forward-looking statements for the purposes of the safe harbor provisions under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.
Except for historical information contained in this call, the matters discussed on this call, including
Liquidators of Andrew Donnelly-linked Profounder Turfmaster have been cleared to enter into a funding agreement as they navigate the company’s estimated $3.7 million debt.
The chief executive of the Celtic Freeport has stepped down from her role less than two years after first taking the job.
Advertisement
The Celtic Freeport, which covers the ports of Milford Haven and Port Talbot and benefits from a number of UK Government funded tax breaks and incentives, has confirmed that Brazilian Luciana Ciubotariu had stood down.
While no further detail on the resignation was given, a representative speaking on behalf of the Celtic Freeport board thanked her for her contribution to the development of the Celtic Freeport, and wished her every success in the future.
Ms Ciubotariu, who was formerly part of the senior management team of the Thames Freeport in London, started her role in May 2024, where she headed up the early foundation stages of the Welsh freeport plans.
Advertisement
The move comes just weeks after Neath Port Talbot Council agreed to enter a memorandum of understanding with the UK and Welsh Governments, Pembrokeshire County Council, and Celtic Freeport Company Limited.
This was intended to formalise the authority as the accountable body for the freeport moving forward as it enters its “delivery phase”.
A statement released by the Freeport said: “During her time as chief executive, Luciana led the organisation through the approval of its full business case and the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding with the UK Government and Welsh Government.
“This will unlock £25m of public investment for the Celtic Freeport and represents a significant milestone in the wider investment programme across the region.
Advertisement
“The Celtic Freeport Board would like to thank Luciana for her contribution to the development of the Celtic Freeport and wishes her every success in the future.”
LOS ANGELES — The long-awaited Michael Jackson biopic “Michael” hit theaters with a star-studded premiere and mixed early reactions Tuesday, offering dazzling musical sequences and a breakout performance by Jaafar Jackson while drawing criticism for its sanitized portrayal of the King of Pop’s complicated life.
Directed by Antoine Fuqua and written by John Logan, the film traces Jackson’s journey from child prodigy in the Jackson 5 to global superstar through the release of his landmark 1982 album “Thriller.” Produced with the cooperation of the Michael Jackson Estate and distributed by Lionsgate, “Michael” arrives in theaters Friday after a world premiere in Berlin on April 10 and a high-profile U.S. premiere in Los Angeles on Monday night.
Jaafar Jackson, Michael’s nephew, stars as the adult version of the icon, delivering what many early viewers called a “tremendous” and “mesmerizing” performance that captures his uncle’s mannerisms, vulnerability and stage presence. Young Michael is portrayed by Juliano Krue Valdi, who also earned praise for his portrayal of the child star. Supporting roles include Colman Domingo as the stern patriarch Joe Jackson, Nia Long as Katherine Jackson, Miles Teller as manager John Branca, and appearances by Laura Harrier, Larenz Tate and others.
Advertisement
Early reactions from the Los Angeles premiere and select critics highlighted the film’s strengths in recreating iconic performances. The “Thriller” and “Beat It” sequences reportedly feature impressive choreography and visual spectacle, with Jaafar Jackson’s dancing and singing earning comparisons to the original. Reviewers described the musical numbers as “off-the-charts” and “electrifying,” providing the emotional high points that fans have anticipated.
However, several critics noted the film’s decision to avoid the most controversial chapters of Jackson’s life. The narrative stops in the mid-1980s, before the major child abuse allegations surfaced, and reshoots reportedly removed references to those events due to legal constraints from a 1994 settlement. Some reviewers called the approach “saccharine” and “reverential,” likening it to a “bland daytime TV movie” that prioritizes celebration over complexity. One critic described it as “terrified to explore the interiority” of its subject, offering little new insight beyond familiar highlights.
Fuqua, known for intense dramas like “Training Day,” opts for a straightforward chronological structure rather than a bold reinterpretation. The film humanizes Jackson through quieter family moments and his struggles with fame and his father’s expectations, but many felt it played things too safely. The estate-backed production emphasizes the music, legacy and artistry, presenting Jackson as a visionary entertainer whose personal struggles are acknowledged but not deeply examined.
The $200 million production faced multiple delays and reshoots, including 22 additional days of filming in 2025 that reportedly cost $10 million to $15 million. These changes, along with a shift from an initial 2025 release to April 24, 2026, fueled speculation about creative differences and legal hurdles. Some reports suggested the final cut functions as “Part One,” with potential sequels exploring later chapters.
Advertisement
Despite the controversies, many fans and early audience members left theaters impressed by the spectacle and emotional payoff. Social media buzzed with praise for Jaafar Jackson’s transformation, with some calling it a “breakout performance” that makes viewers “forget he isn’t the real thing.” The film’s respectful tone and focus on Jackson’s genius resonated with those seeking a celebratory tribute rather than a critical exposé.
Critics’ scores remain mixed ahead of wide reviews dropping Wednesday. Positive voices highlight the musical excellence and Jaafar Jackson’s commitment, while detractors argue the film glosses over Jackson’s complexities, resulting in a polished but shallow biopic. The approach mirrors other estate-approved projects that prioritize legacy preservation over unflinching examination.
For Jackson’s global fanbase, known as the Army of Love, the film offers a chance to relive the magic of his early career on the big screen. The recreation of Motown performances, the rise to “Thriller” dominance and the cultural impact of breaking MTV barriers provide nostalgic satisfaction. Yet for those hoping for a nuanced exploration of fame’s toll, the absence of later controversies leaves a noticeable gap.
Director Fuqua aimed to capture both the showman and the sensitive artist behind the hits. The film includes tender scenes of family life in Gary, Indiana, and Jackson’s drive to innovate, but stops short of the scandals that defined much of his later public image. Producers, including Graham King (known for “Bohemian Rhapsody”), positioned the project as a tribute to the music and legacy rather than a definitive biography.
Advertisement
The cast’s dedication shines through. Jaafar Jackson trained extensively to embody his uncle’s voice, dance moves and emotional depth, drawing from family stories and archival footage. Domingo brings simmering intensity to Joe Jackson, portraying the demanding father whose influence shaped Michael’s ambition and insecurities. Nia Long adds warmth as Katherine, grounding the family dynamic.
Visually, the film leans into cinematic spectacle with vibrant recreations of iconic videos and performances. Cinematography and choreography aim to transport audiences to the height of Jackson’s creative peak, complete with moonwalks, glove spins and crowd hysteria.
As “Michael” prepares for wide release, it faces the challenge of satisfying both devoted fans eager for celebration and broader audiences seeking deeper insight. The estate’s involvement ensures a protective lens, but some critics argue this limits the film’s dramatic potential and cultural resonance.
Early box office projections suggest strong opening weekend interest, particularly among fans nostalgic for Jackson’s unparalleled showmanship. International appeal remains high given Jackson’s global icon status.
Advertisement
The film arrives amid ongoing conversations about separating Jackson’s art from his personal controversies. By focusing on the pre-1990s era, “Michael” sidesteps much of that debate, presenting a version of the story centered on talent, perseverance and groundbreaking success.
Whether the biopic changes minds or reinforces existing views remains to be seen. For many, Jaafar Jackson’s performance alone justifies the ticket price, delivering a heartfelt homage to one of music’s most influential figures.
As reviews roll in and audiences experience the film this weekend, “Michael” stands as both a lavish tribute and a reminder of the challenges in portraying larger-than-life legends. The King of Pop’s story continues to captivate, even when told through a carefully curated lens.
Amazon is pushing deeper into the booming weight loss market, unveiling Tuesday a new program that aims to simplify access to popular GLP-1 treatments.
Advertisement
The company said its primary care arm, Amazon One Medical, is launching a GLP-1 management program that integrates obesity treatment into routine care. The offering combines virtual and in-person visits, prescription management and pharmacy fulfillment, positioning weight management as a long-term chronic condition rather than a one-off prescription.
“Providing customers with fast, convenient medication access and clear, transparent pricing is integral to how Amazon Pharmacy is transforming the pharmacy experience,” said Tanvi Patel, vice president and general manager of Amazon Pharmacy, in the company’s press release.
“By expanding access to the latest GLP-1 medications with upfront, clear pricing, we’re making it easier for customers to get the treatments their health care providers prescribe and to stay on those medications because they are delivered reliably directly to patients,” Patel said.
Through Amazon Pharmacy, patients will be able to access medications including Novo Nordisk’s Wegovy as well as newer oral GLP-1 options. Insured pricing will start as low as $25 per month, Amazon said. For cash-paying patients, oral drugs start at $149 per month, it said.
Advertisement
Injectable treatments, including Wegovy shots and Eli Lilly’s Zepbound, begin at $299 per month when paid for without insurance, Amazon said.
Those prices are roughly in line with much of the current market.
But Amazon’s edge is in same-day delivery and convenience as it looks to leverage its logistics network and consumer reach into another corner of the medical system.
The company also said it will offer on-demand prescription renewals, starting at $29 for message consultation and $49 for video care. Amazon plans to expand its same-day drug delivery offering to 4,500 cities by the end of 2026.
Dhierin-Perkash Bechai is an aerospace, defense and airline analyst.
Dhierin runs the investing group The Aerospace Forum, whose goal is to discover investment opportunities in the aerospace, defense and airline industry. With a background in aerospace engineering, he provides analysis of a complex industry with significant growth prospects, and offers context to developments as they occur, describing how they might affect investment theses. His investing ideas are driven by data informed analysis. The investing group also provides direct access to data analytics monitors.
Learn more.
Analyst’s Disclosure: I/we have no stock, option or similar derivative position in any of the companies mentioned, and no plans to initiate any such positions within the next 72 hours. I wrote this article myself, and it expresses my own opinions. I am not receiving compensation for it (other than from Seeking Alpha). I have no business relationship with any company whose stock is mentioned in this article.
Seeking Alpha’s Disclosure: Past performance is no guarantee of future results. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any investment is suitable for a particular investor. Any views or opinions expressed above may not reflect those of Seeking Alpha as a whole. Seeking Alpha is not a licensed securities dealer, broker or US investment adviser or investment bank. Our analysts are third party authors that include both professional investors and individual investors who may not be licensed or certified by any institute or regulatory body.
President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology Co-Chair David Sacks joins ‘Mornings with Maria’ to discuss the benefits of AI in the workforce and the risk of ‘agentic misalignment’ in AI models.
Concerns about artificial intelligence behaving unpredictably are gaining attention following a recent experiment involving leading AI models, though experts remain divided on what the findings actually demonstrate.
President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology Co-Chair David Sacks joined FOX Business’ Maria Bartiromo on “Mornings with Maria” to address claims tied to an Anthropic study examining so-called “agentic misalignment.”
The study, highlighted by Google Cloud Advisory Board Chair Betsy Atkins, tested how AI systems respond under pressure. According to Atkins, the models crossed established boundaries when placed in constrained scenarios.
Google Cloud Advisory Board Chair Betsy Atkins breaks down AI’s business upside, model risks and workforce impact on ‘Mornings with Maria.’
“Every single one of them went outside of their credentials and permissions, burrowed into systems they were not authorized to get access to,” Atkins said, claiming that in one case an AI system escalated to blackmail after identifying sensitive personal information.
Anthropic’s research outlines that these behaviors occurred in simulated environments designed to test edge-case decision-making, where models were given specific instructions and constraints.
Sacks pointed to those conditions as central to understanding the results, noting the behavior did not emerge spontaneously.
Artificial intelligence robot during a 2026 event in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Bridget Bennett/Bloomberg / Getty Images)
“The people who… created that study had to iterate on the prompt over 200 times to get the AI model to do what they wanted, which was to achieve this headline-grabbing result of blackmailing the user,” Sacks said.
He added that the setup placed the model in a scenario where “blackmail was really the only logical result,” emphasizing that the system was responding to instructions rather than acting independently.
“The AI is not scheming… It’s engaging in a form of instruction… I think that that study was irresponsible and it was designed to create this,” Sacks said.
Harvey AI co-founder and CEO Winston Weinberg details how the platform is redefining white-collar jobs in the legal industry on ‘The Claman Countdown.’
Advertisement
Sacks also noted that similar behavior has not been observed outside controlled testing environments, saying “a year later, we actually have not seen any examples of this behavior in the wild.”
The findings come as policymakers and industry leaders continue evaluating how to interpret AI safety research conducted under experimental conditions.
You must be logged in to post a comment Login