In brief
At VivaTech in Paris, Amazon co‑founder Jeff Bezos challenged the narrative that artificial intelligence will eliminate jobs, arguing instead that it will unlock new work opportunities and create a labour shortage. He highlighted his new AI venture Prometheus, aimed at speeding physical manufacturing, and stressed that technology removes barriers rather than replaces people. Bezos also outlined a vision for a permanent lunar presence, suggesting space is supply‑constrained and that the Moon offers a staging point for future ventures. The tech maestro’s comments come amid worries from other leaders about automation and its impact on employment.
At the tech show VivaTech in Paris on Tuesday, Amazon’s co‑founder told journalists that artificial intelligence will not swallow careers, but will instead generate a labour shortage.
“I totally disagree with the point of view that AI is going to make humans redundant,” he said. “I think AI is going to create a labour shortage.”
He argued that AI will unlock new opportunities and increase the demand for human work, a view that contrasts with former UK prime minister Rishi Sunak’s remarks that AI threatens young people’s job prospects (link).
Jeef Bezos also spoke of his new venture Prometheus, a project focused on accelerating physical manufacturing—an industry that is becoming more automated—and said that technology can remove barriers that limit ambition.
While in Paris, he outlined a long‑term vision for space exploration. “We’re going to the Moon to stay, not just to visit,” Bezos said, noting that the Moon offers a natural starting point for human expansion because of its proximity and resources.
He also mentioned Blue Origin, which is racing with SpaceX to dominate commercial spaceflight and lunar exploration, and the company’s recent setback when an uncrewed New Glenn rocket exploded during a ground test (link). Bezos added that the team was lucky, following a brief pause that did not result in injuries.
The event also showcased a humanoid robot from Unitree, in collaboration with French neuro‑AI firm HABS. The robot could respond to brain‑generated commands using an EEG headset, offering a glimpse of human‑machine collaboration beyond chatbots.
Overall, the conference highlighted how AI is moving beyond virtual dialogue into tangible, physical systems, with robotics and manufacturing at the forefront of this transformation.
