- Amazon founder Jeff Bezos has backed at least three spatial intelligence startups this year.
- Spatial intelligence uses AI-powered robots to navigate freely within their environment.
Jeff Bezos is joining a slew of top-tier investors, including Andreessen Horowitz and Khosla Ventures, by backing companies that are building robots capable of advanced reasoning and processing visual data.
Bezos joined ChatGPT creator OpenAI in backing AI robotics startup Physical Intelligence in its $400 million funding round which was announced in early November, The New York Times reported. The startup develops large-scale AI models with the goal of bringing general-purpose AI into the physical world.
An offshoot of the booming AI sector, these so-called "spatial intelligence" startups are developing tech that allows robots to navigate and interact with their environment more freely. These robots could take over dangerous or labor-intensive tasks in industries including logistics, healthcare, manufacturing, or construction.
VCs see AI robotics as a way to automate fields impacted by labor shortages and rising costs, and startups in the space are building robots that can engage in decision-making and adapt on the fly — a big update from past machines.
Traditional robotics, for example, would require multiple, individually programmed machines to complete various aspects of a task, and they would have trouble if something went wrong along the way.
A spatially intelligent robot, however, could be programmed in plain language rather than in code to complete a task. The machine would then interpret the request, teach itself to complete the task and troubleshoot any issues.
Physical Intelligence is at least the third spatial intelligence startup Bezos has backed this year, according to PitchBook. BI has compiled a list of each startup in the space that Bezos and his family office, Bezos Expeditions, have invested in.
Physical Intelligence
Physical Intelligence is developing large-scale AI models to power robots and make them more common in everyday life. Bezos participated in the startup's $400 million funding round in November 2024, according to the New York Times. The round values the company at $2.4 billion.
Swiss-Mile
Swiss-Mile is building wheeled robots that use AI to collect data and complete security, monitoring, construction, and logistics tasks. Bezos Expeditions co-led the startup's $22 million seed funding round in August 2024.
Figure AI
Figure AI builds AI robots that can take over unsafe jobs from humans. Bezos Expeditions participated in the startup's $675 million Series B funding round in February 2024.
Deep Sentinel
Deep Sentinel builds home security cameras that use AI to live-analyze videos and detect threats in real time. Bezos invested in an undisclosed funding round in 2021, while Bezos Expeditions invested in its $24 million Series A funding round in 2020.
Fathom Radiant
Fathom Radiant builds computer hardware that is used in AI development. Bezos invested in a $2.27 million funding round in 2020.
Rethink Robotics
Rethink Robotics builds robots that use AI to take on boring, dirty, and dangerous manufacturing jobs. The startup was acquired by HAHN Group in 2020. Bezos Expeditions invested in the startup's $30 million Series E in 2017, $40 million Series D in 2015, $30 million Series C in 2012, $20 million Series B in 2010, $7 million Series A1 in 2009, and $5 million Series A in 2008.