Amazon Announces Exit of AI Head Rohit Prasad, Names Peter DeSantis to Lead AGI Unit

Amazon has confirmed that Rohit Prasad, a senior executive overseeing its artificial general intelligence (AGI) unit, will leave the company at the end of this year. 

The announcement comes as Amazon undertakes a significant restructuring of its AI-related teams, signaling a renewed push to strengthen its position in the rapidly evolving artificial intelligence landscape.

AI, Silicon, and Quantum Teams to Be Unified

In a blog post, Amazon CEO Andy Jassy said the company is reorganising its AGI unit under a broader division that will also include silicon development and quantum computing teams. 

The expanded division will be led by Peter DeSantis, a long-time Amazon executive with nearly 27 years at the company. DeSantis currently serves as a senior vice president within Amazon Web Services (AWS).

According to Jassy, the restructuring reflects Amazon’s belief that AI technologies have reached an “inflection point,” requiring tighter integration and unified leadership to accelerate innovation and delivery.

Strengthening Amazon’s Competitive AI Position

Amazon has been working to counter perceptions that it trails rivals such as OpenAI, Google, and Anthropic in AI development. The company recently launched its own foundation models, branded Nova, and continues to invest heavily in its Trainium custom AI chips, positioning them as alternatives to Nvidia’s dominant hardware.

Jassy expressed confidence that the reorganisation will help Amazon deliver more impactful AI capabilities to customers, citing the strong foundation already in place and DeSantis’ experience in scaling complex technologies.

Key Leadership Appointments

Under the new structure, DeSantis will report directly to Jassy. Amazon has also appointed Pieter Abbeel, who joined the company in 2024 following the acquisition of robotics startup Covariant, to lead the frontier model research team within the AGI group.

Rohit Prasad’s Legacy at Amazon

Prasad joined Amazon in 2013 and previously served as head scientist for Alexa before taking charge of AGI development in 2023. Jassy praised Prasad’s contributions, calling him “missionary, passionate, and selfless,” and credited him with shaping Amazon’s AI vision.

Also Read: Amazon Plans to Invest $10 Billion in OpenAI!

Conclusion

Amazon’s AGI reorganisation marks a strategic shift as the company aligns AI, chip development, and quantum computing under a single leadership. With seasoned executives at the helm, Amazon aims to sharpen its competitive edge and define its next phase of AI-driven growth.

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