Former Amazon founder and billionaire entrepreneur Jeff Bezos has pushed back against growing fears that artificial intelligence will trigger widespread unemployment, arguing instead that the technology will usher in “multiple golden ages” of prosperity and innovation.

Speaking to the Financial Times, Bezos dismissed predictions of an AI-driven jobs apocalypse, saying history shows that technological breakthroughs tend to create more opportunities than they destroy. Rather than eliminating work altogether, he believes AI will accelerate invention, boost productivity and ultimately generate entirely new industries and professions.

Bezos’ optimism comes at a time when warnings about job displacement are intensifying across the technology sector. Several AI leaders and economists have cautioned that generative AI could automate millions of white-collar tasks, particularly entry-level roles in fields such as administration, customer service and professional services.

However, Bezos argues that such concerns underestimate humanity’s ability to adapt.

“At root, all civilisational wealth is driven by invention,” he said, comparing AI’s potential impact to historical innovations such as the plough and the industrial revolution. According to Bezos, each wave of technological progress has ultimately expanded economic opportunity and improved living standards.

The comments coincide with the launch of Prometheus, Bezos’ new AI venture reportedly valued at around $41 billion. The company aims to develop what it describes as an “artificial general engineer” — an AI system capable of understanding physical processes and assisting with the design and manufacturing of complex products. Unlike today’s large language models, the technology is intended to bridge the gap between digital intelligence and real-world engineering.

Prometheus has already attracted billions of dollars from major investors and recruited talent from leading AI companies, underscoring the fierce competition for expertise in the sector.

Bezos also suggested that AI could eventually create a labour shortage rather than mass unemployment. As productivity rises and innovation accelerates, he believes demand for new products, services and human creativity will expand faster than jobs disappear.

Not everyone shares that view.

Leaders such as Dario Amodei of Anthropic have warned that AI could permanently eliminate significant numbers of jobs, particularly among knowledge workers, and have called for policies to redistribute the economic gains generated by automation.

The contrasting perspectives reflect a broader debate surrounding the AI revolution. Supporters see artificial intelligence as a catalyst for unprecedented prosperity, while critics fear the benefits could be unevenly distributed and accompanied by painful labour market disruption.

For Bezos, the outcome is clear. He believes AI will not diminish humanity’s role in the economy but expand it, opening the door to an era of accelerated discovery and abundance.

Whether that vision of “golden ages” becomes reality may depend not only on the technology itself, but also on how societies choose to manage the transition.

Reference: Financial Times, “Jeff Bezos says AI will bring ‘golden ages’ not mass job losses” (2026). Financial Times article