Exclusive-The AI founders who walked away from Bezos-backed Prometheus to model the universe

SAN FRANCISCO, Aug 25 - Two AI researchers, Anima Anandkumar and Benedikt Jenik, who were once approached to lead Jeff Bezos' Project Prometheus, have launched their own venture called Accelerated Understanding Inc. The company has developed an AI model capable of processing an unprecedented amount of data, handling 5 trillion pieces of information in a single prompt.

This is around 5 million times the data capacity of leading models like Anthropic and Google's flagship models. Unlike the language-focused AI models, Accelerated Understanding's system is designed to predict physical phenomena in space and time. The founders claim that their approach, which leverages a technology called neural operators, could revolutionize industries such as chip design, robotics, and energy.

They are currently focusing on enterprise deals rather than consumer products. Bezos and an investor named Vik Bajaj had discussed a potential collaboration with Anandkumar and Jenik in late 2024, but the researchers ultimately decided to proceed independently.