Amazon unveils conversational robot and accelerates warehouse automation
Amazon has revealed a new iteration of its Proteus warehouse robot, now capable of understanding instructions delivered in natural language. Unveiled at the "Delivering the Future" event in London, this evolution allows employees to interact with the machine without specific technical commands. Already operational in 25 US fulfillment centers, Proteus is slated for a phased European rollout starting in 2027. The group also showcased Vulcan, a robot equipped with a sense of touch, alongside the STARK automated handling system.
This strategy is part of a vast modernization program backed by a €10bn investment in European logistics operations. Concurrently, Amazon is continuing to streamline its administrative workforce to reallocate capital toward artificial intelligence projects. Following several rounds of job cuts, CEO Andy Jassy acknowledged that AI would reduce certain staffing requirements while creating new roles necessitating different skill sets.
Amazon maintains, however, that robotization does not necessarily lead to a decline in employment. According to executives, investments in robotics have generated new technical professions and increased recruitment needs within warehouses. This perspective remains contested by some experts, who argue that the rapid advancement of AI and robotics could displace a growing share of human labor in the long term. In response to the skills shortage, Amazon is simultaneously strengthening its training and apprenticeship programs, particularly in the UK.
Amazon.com, Inc. is one of the world leaders in on-line distribution of products to the general public. The group also operates a marketplace activity, allowing individuals and distribution companies to conduct their purchase and selling transactions for goods and services. The activity is organized around three families of products and services:
- electronic and computer products: toys, cameras, computers, laptops and peripherals, TVs, stereo systems, readers, wireless communication products, etc. Amazon.com also offers kitchen and garden equipment, clothing, beauty products, etc.;
- cultural products: books, musical products, video games and DVDs;
- other: primarily Internet interface and application development services.
Net sales break down by source of income between sales of services (58.7%) and sales of products (41.3%).
Net sales are distributed geographically as follows: the United States (68.3%), Germany (6.4%), United Kingdom (6%), Japan (4.3%) and others (15%).
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