Amazon Launches Generative AI Model

Amazon Launches Generative AI Model

Amazon Deploys 1 Million Robots in Warehouses in 13 Years

Amazon has achieved a new robotics milestone after 13 years of using robots in its warehouses. The tech giant announced on Monday that it now has 1 million robots in its warehouses. This millionth robot was recently delivered to a distribution facility in Japan.

This number puts Amazon on track to achieve another milestone: its vast warehouse network could soon include as many robots as it does working with humans, according to a report by TechCrunch. The report also stated that 75% of Amazon's global deliveries are now handled in some way by a robot.

The company also announced that it will launch a new generative AI model called DeepFleet for its warehouse robots. This AI model, which can more efficiently coordinate robot routes within the company's warehouses, will help increase the speed of its robot fleet by 10%, according to Amazon. The company used AWS Studio, a cloud-based software that helps build and deploy AI models, to create DeepFleet. Amazon trained the model on data from its warehouses and inventory.

Amazon's one millionth robot represents more than just a number; the company has been improving its robot fleet in recent years, adding new capabilities and models. In May, the company unveiled its newest robot, Vulcan. This model features two arms: one designed for reordering inventory, and the other equipped with a camera and a suction cup for picking up items.

Notably, these Vulcan robots have a sense of touch, allowing them to feel the objects they pick up, according to Amazon. In October 2024, the company announced its "Next Generation Distribution Centers," which will feature 10 times the number of robots in its current facilities, in addition to human workers.

The first of these new robot-powered centers opened shortly after in Shreveport, Louisiana, near the Texas border. Amazon began building its robotics capabilities in 2012, coinciding with its acquisition of Kiva Systems.