AMAZON
Robots are the new interns at Amazon
Amazon is doubling down on automation, not just for efficiency, but to reshape how its warehouses and delivery systems operate.
The company unveiled three new technologies aimed at streamlining operations and reducing reliance on human workers.
The three new tech:
Blue Jay: a robotic arm that sorts packages.
Eluna: an AI tool that helps managers deploy staff and prevent slowdowns.
AI-powered AR glasses: designed for delivery drivers to identify packages, navigate routes, and even detect dogs.
The move builds on Amazon’s long-running automation strategy that began with its $775 million purchase of Kiva Systems in 2012.
Today, around 75% of Amazon’s deliveries involve robots in some capacity.
The new rollout reflects CEO Andy Jassy’s broader push to use AI across all parts of the business.
Efficiency is the new flex
As automation scales, warehouse staff numbers have dropped to their lowest in 16 years, around 670 workers per facility in 2024.
Analysts expect the company could save up to $4 billion annually as more robot-equipped fulfilment centres come online.
At its new site in Shreveport, Louisiana, robots are already boosting speed by 25% through a mix of automated arms, robotic carts, and AI coordination.
Meanwhile, driver trials with AR glasses show promise for reducing errors and time lost finding drop-off points.
Amazon says the goal isn’t to replace staff entirely, but to make work safer and less repetitive, with new training programmes helping employees learn to oversee these systems.
Can they fix the “small item in a giant box” thing first? - MV