In a significant leadership change at one of the world's largest tech companies, Rohit Prasad, the Indian-origin head of Amazon's artificial intelligence efforts, has decided to leave the e-commerce giant. Amazon CEO Andy Jassy made the announcement, confirming Prasad's departure at the end of the year after a notable 12-year tenure.
A Legacy of Building Conversational AI
Rohit Prasad joined Amazon in 2013, during the formative stages of the Alexa voice assistant project. According to Jassy's blog post, Prasad was brought on board specifically to help construct a conversational AI system designed to simplify customers' lives. His impact was profound, as he played a central role in transforming Alexa from an ambitious concept into a daily service for hundreds of millions of users worldwide.
For the past two years, Prasad's focus shifted to pioneering Amazon's next-generation AI initiatives. He led the creation of Amazon Nova and spearheaded the company's artificial generative intelligence (AGI) unit. Under his guidance, the team developed twelve state-of-the-art foundation models. These models are recognized for their industry-leading price-performance and are now utilized by tens of thousands of companies across nearly all sectors.
From Ranchi to TIME's Influential AI List
Rohit Prasad's journey to the pinnacle of the tech world began in Ranchi, Jharkhand. He completed his degree in Electrical and Communication Engineering from the Birla Institute of Technology, Mesra, before moving to the United States for a Master's degree from the Illinois Institute of Technology.
His professional career started at BBN Technologies, a firm famous for its foundational work on ARPANET, the precursor to the modern internet. He spent 14 years there, rising from a staff scientist to Senior Director while working on critical speech and language technologies.
In 2024, Prasad's influence was globally acknowledged when TIME Magazine included him in its prestigious 'TIME100 Most Influential People in AI 2024' list, cementing his status as a leading mind in the field.
Leadership Transition and Future Direction
In his announcement, CEO Andy Jassy expressed deep gratitude for Prasad's contributions, describing him as "missionary, passionate, and selfless." Jassy credited Prasad with building a strong team, creating differentiated technology, and fostering a culture of ambitious invention.
With Prasad's exit, Amazon has appointed a seasoned veteran to steer its AI future. Peter DeSantis, a 27-year Amazon veteran, will now lead the organization responsible for the company's most expansive AI models, silicon development, and quantum computing. Additionally, Pieter Abbeel, a renowned AI researcher and co-founder of Covariant, will take charge of Amazon's frontier model research team within the AGI unit.
This leadership transition marks the end of a significant chapter in Amazon's AI history and the beginning of a new one, as the company continues to compete fiercely in the global artificial intelligence race.
