Jeff Bezos, the founder of Amazon, has been making waves with his recent investments in artificial intelligence (AI). While his big-ticket purchases, such as a $165 million estate in Los Angeles and a $177 million property in Miami, have been grabbing headlines, it is his foray into AI through his family office, Bezos Expeditions, that is truly noteworthy. Exclusive data provided to CNBC by FINTRX, a private wealth intelligence platform, reveals that all of Bezos’ investments this year have been in the realm of artificial intelligence, totaling over $1 billion.
The AI Investment Trend
While the exact amounts of Bezos’ investments in AI have not been disclosed, the sheer focus on this sector is indicative of a larger trend among family offices. According to the UBS Global Family Office Report, AI has become the top investment category for family offices, with 78% of them planning to invest in AI in the next two to three years. Bezos’ alignment with this trend highlights the growing importance of AI in the tech and investment landscape.
In January, Bezos’ family office invested in Perplexity AI, an AI-powered search engine company, in a Series B round worth $73.6 million. This was followed by an additional investment in a $63 million follow-on round in April. The value of Bezos Expeditions’ initial investment in Perplexity AI is estimated to have doubled by April, with the company’s valuation soaring to between $2.5 billion and $3 billion.
While Bezos Expeditions has historically tilted heavily towards technology investments, with 70% of its portfolio dedicated to the tech sector, the recent focus on AI indicates a strategic shift. The next biggest categories in Bezos’ investment portfolio are consumer goods at 16%, followed by financial services and manufacturing, both at 13%. With AI taking the center stage, Bezos is positioning himself to ride the wave of technological advancements that are transforming industries.
It’s not just Bezos’ family office that is betting big on AI. Amazon, the tech giant founded by Bezos, has also been investing heavily in artificial intelligence. The company plans to inject over $100 billion into data centers over the next decade and has allocated $4 billion to Anthropic, an AI safety and research firm. This concerted effort to bolster its AI capabilities underscores the strategic importance of AI in Amazon’s future growth and innovation.
With Jeff Bezos doubling down on AI investments through his family office and Amazon ramping up its AI initiatives, it is clear that the future of technology is intertwined with artificial intelligence. As AI continues to disrupt and transform industries, Bezos’ strategic bets in this space reflect his vision for leveraging cutting-edge technologies to drive growth and innovation. The rise of Jeff Bezos’ AI investments signals a new chapter in the evolution of tech and highlights the pivotal role that AI will play in shaping the future of business and society.