### Amazon Restructures AI Leadership: Rohit Prasad Exits, Peter DeSantis Takes Charge Amazon is undergoing a significant transformation in its artificial intelligence (AI) division as CEO Andy Jassy announces the departure of Rohit Prasad, the head of the artificial general intelligence (AGI) team. Prasad, who has been instrumental in shaping Amazon's AI initiatives, including the development of the Nova models and Alexa, will leave the company by the end of the year. In his place, Peter DeSantis, a long-time executive at Amazon Web Services (AWS), has been appointed to lead a newly unified AI organization that encompasses AI model development, custom chip design, and quantum computing research. This strategic reorganization aims to enhance Amazon's competitive edge in the rapidly evolving AI landscape, particularly against rivals like OpenAI, Google, and Microsoft [https://www.angelone.in/news/global-market/amazon-announces-exit-of-ai-head-rohit-prasad-names-peter-desantis-to-lead-agi-unit, https://www.moneycontrol.com/technology/amazon-agi-chief-rohit-prasad-to-exit-as-ceo-andy-jassy-reshuffles-ai-leadership-article-13731110.html]. ### Key Changes in Amazon's AI Leadership Structure 1. **Departure of Rohit Prasad**: - Rohit Prasad, who has been a key figure in Amazon's AI strategy, is set to exit the company. His leadership has been pivotal in developing AI technologies, including Alexa and the Nova models [https://www.adgully.com/post/10322/rohit-prasad-to-exit-amazon-after-shaping-alexa-and-the-companys-ai-ambitions]. 2. **Appointment of Peter DeSantis**: - Peter DeSantis, a veteran of AWS with 27 years of experience, will take over the leadership of the newly formed AI division. This division will focus on integrating AI model development, custom silicon initiatives, and quantum computing [https://www.theverge.com/news/846721/amazon-new-agi-leader-peter-desantis-rohit-prasad]. 3. **Strategic Reorganization**: - The restructuring is part of Amazon's broader strategy to accelerate innovation in AI and strengthen its position in the market. This move comes as the company aims to catch up with competitors in the AI space [https://fortune.com/2025/12/17/amazon-ceo-andy-jassy-announces-departure-of-ai-exec-rohit-prasad-in-leadership-shakeup]. ### Supporting Evidence of Leadership Changes - **Rohit Prasad's Contributions**: - Prasad has been credited with significant advancements in Amazon's AI capabilities, particularly in developing the Nova models and enhancing Alexa's functionalities [https://www.adgully.com/post/10322/rohit-prasad-to-exit-amazon-after-shaping-alexa-and-the-companys-ai-ambitions]. - **Peter DeSantis's Experience**: - DeSantis's extensive background in AWS positions him well to lead the new AI division, which aims to unify various AI initiatives under a single leadership structure [https://techcrunch.com/2025/12/17/amazon-appoints-longtime-aws-exec-peter-desantis-to-lead-new-ai-org]. - **Market Context**: - The leadership shakeup comes at a time when Amazon is striving to enhance its AI capabilities to compete more effectively with industry leaders like OpenAI and Google, which have made significant strides in AI technology [https://cryptorank.io/news/feed/2c5a5-amazon-names-new-ai-chief-to-take-on-openai-google-microsoft]. ### Conclusion: A New Era for Amazon's AI Division In summary, Amazon's recent leadership changes in its AI division mark a pivotal moment for the company as it seeks to strengthen its competitive position in the AI landscape. The exit of Rohit Prasad and the appointment of Peter DeSantis signal a strategic shift aimed at fostering innovation and unifying AI efforts across the organization. 1. **Rohit Prasad's departure** highlights the need for new leadership to drive Amazon's AI ambitions. 2. **Peter DeSantis's appointment** reflects a strategic focus on integrating AI model development and custom silicon initiatives. 3. **The reorganization** is a response to the competitive pressures from other tech giants in the AI sector. This restructuring is expected to accelerate Amazon's AI initiatives and enhance its capabilities in the rapidly evolving technology landscape [https://www.latestly.com/quickly/technology/amazon-ai-shake-up-desantis-leads-nova-abbeel-heads-frontier-models-7243089.html, https://www.crn.com/news/cloud/2025/amazon-ceo-says-new-ai-leader-has-unified-focus-unveils-ai-innovator-prasad-departure].