Amazon Shakes Up AI Leadership: Peter DeSantis Takes the Helm Amid Executive Departure

Amazon CEO Andy Jassy announces a significant leadership change in the company's AI division, with Rohit Prasad stepping down and Peter DeSantis taking over. The move comes as Amazon aims to reinvigorate its AI efforts and stay competitive in the rapidly evolving tech landscape.

Rohit Prasad Departs, Peter DeSantis Steps In

Rohit Prasad, who has led Amazon’s AGI (artificial general intelligence) team since 2023, departs at the end of the year. Prasad, known for his work on the Alexa voice assistant, was appointed to lead the AGI effort after the launch of ChatGPT in November 2022. His departure marks a shift in Amazon's AI strategy.

Replacing Prasad is Peter DeSantis, a longtime Amazon Web Services (AWS) executive. DeSantis will now lead a new organization focused on developing AI models, custom computer chips, and quantum computing. Jassy emphasizes that DeSantis's experience in overseeing AWS's global infrastructure makes him well-suited for the role.

Pieter Abbeel Joins the Leadership Team

In addition to DeSantis, Pieter Abbeel, an Amazon Distinguished Scientist in robotics and professor at UC Berkeley, takes the helm of the company’s frontier model research team. Abbeel, who joined Amazon in 2024, brings expertise in generative AI and reinforcement learning, key areas for Amazon's future AI developments.

Context and Implications

The leadership shake-up follows a series of challenges for Amazon's AI and AGI efforts. Recent reports suggest that the company's Alexa AI and AGI-related projects have struggled, with leaked documents highlighting critical flaws and delays. Despite these setbacks, Amazon continues to invest heavily in AI, including potential deals with OpenAI and Anthropic, and the use of its Trainium AI chips.

Industry analysts have noted that Amazon's AWS is lagging behind in the AI cloud race, but the company's recent moves signal a renewed commitment to catching up. The appointment of DeSantis and Abbeel, along with potential investments in leading AI companies, indicates Amazon's determination to remain a key player in the AI space.

References

• Amazon CEO Andy Jassy announces departure of AI exec Rohit Prasad in leadership shake-up