Amazon consolidates AI teams, shuts down flagship models after AGI layoffs

Amazon is trimming its AI portfolio, retiring several Nova models and closing the AGI Lab while funneling resources into a single frontier-model project.

Amazon announced a major reorganization of its artificial intelligence division, retiring several flagship models from its Nova suite, including the Premier, Omni, Reel video generator and Canvas image generator, which will now receive only minimal support for existing customers. The move follows layoffs in the company's AGI organization and the complete shutdown of the AGI Lab, a high-visibility research unit formed after acquiring talent from the startup Adept.

Remaining Nova products will be limited to lighter, task-oriented models such as Nova 2 Sonic, Nova 2 Lite, Nova Forge and Nova Act. Engineering and hardware resources are being consolidated under Frontier Model Research, an initiative headed by AI roboticist Pieter Abbeel, who joined Amazon through its acquisition of Covariant. This team is tasked with delivering a new foundation model slated for unveiling at the upcoming re:Invent conference. Amazon’s spokesperson emphasized that model evolution is part of normal portfolio management and that customers will receive migration guidance.