Amazon founder Jeff Bezos says human water consumption is limiting AI’s potential
Skipping fears of mass unemployment, Bezos used his VivaTech panel to argue that an 'artificial general engineer' just creates more tasks.
Speaking at the VivaTech 2026, Bezos
weighed in on the ongoing debate around AI and its possible labour shortages. He argued that AI will boost human creativity. Giving the example of his latest venture, Prometheus, an AI startup, which aims to build an “artificial general engineer”, Bezos argued that the project speeds up innovation and creates new industries, ultimately leading to a labour shortage rather than mass unemployment.
“AI is going to create a labour shortage because it’s going to make it possible for people to identify more problems,” he said.
He added that the technology will help bring to life ideas previously considered impossible.
“If we can accelerate the dream-build loop, all of the ideas will then become possible. And then we end up being limited not by our capabilities but by our imaginations,” the 62-year-old said during a session moderated by former NASA astronaut Mike Massimino. Blue Origin chief executive Dave Limp was also part of the panel.
The cost of AI advancement
Bezos also said that in order for AI to reach that potential, certain resources must be allocated and prioritised for the technology rather than for human consumption.
AI data centres’ use of large quantities of water has been a point of contention and concern for many people around the world. But Bezos argued that “we have to look at the macro-picture of our planet’s future.”
Skipping fears of mass unemployment, Bezos used his VivaTech panel to argue that an 'artificial general engineer' just creates more tasks.
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