Jeff Bezos backs UK AI startup CuspAI at $2.6B valuation

Published Jul 21, 12:00 PM UTC

Jeff Bezos, through Bezos Expeditions, and the UK government's sovereign AI fund have invested in British startup CuspAI, which raised $450 million at a $2.6 billion valuation. The funding round was led by Kleiner Perkins and NEA. CuspAI announced a collaboration with Nvidia Corp. and Meta Platforms Inc.'s Fundamental AI Research Team, launching the AI Materials Foundry—a coalition of over 45 organizations. The initiative aims to use artificial intelligence to discover and develop new materials for semiconductors, clean energy, and advanced manufacturing, with a goal of reducing reliance on rare metals like iridium and ruthenium. This investment follows Bezos' earlier backing of Prometheus, an AI manufacturing venture valued at $41 billion. Bezos has stated he believes AI will create a labor shortage rather than make humans redundant.