Amazon reaches new milestone, becomes world’s largest manufacturer and operator of…

Amazon has announced that it has reached a significant milestone, deploying its millionth worker robot across its global network of over 300 facilities. The company also revealed plans to power its entire robot fleet with a newly launched generative artificial intelligence (AI) model named "

DeepFleet

." This expansion comes soon after company CEO Andy Jassy talked about job cuts and increasing automation.

Amazon developing AI-powered robot fleet to boost efficiency

According to Scott Dresser, Vice President of Amazon

Robotics

, this achievement solidifies Amazon's position as the world’s largest manufacturer and operator of

mobile robotics

. Dresser stated that the new DeepFleet AI model will change how robots move within fulfillment centers, aiming to reduce fleet travel time by 10%. This efficiency gain is expected to lead to faster and more cost-effective package deliveries.Amazon began integrating robots into its operations in 2012, initially to transport inventory shelves. Since then, the roles of these automated workers have expanded, now including robots capable of lifting up to 1,250 pounds and fully autonomous units navigating facilities with customer orders. The company's continued investment in robotics and AI contrasts with some tech industry trends, though AI-powered humanoid robots are also anticipated to be deployed in Tesla factories this year.

Robots to work alongside humans: Amazon

Dresser, while addressing anxieties about AI-led job cuts, emphasised that Amazon’s robots “work alongside our employees, handling heavy lifting and repetitive tasks while creating new opportunities for our front-line operators to develop technical skills.” He pointed to Amazon's new fulfillment center in Shreveport, Louisiana, which opened late last year and reportedly required 30% more employees in specialised roles like reliability, maintenance and engineering.However, Amazon CEO Andy Jassy recently told CNBC that the company's aggressive adoption of

generative AI

will inevitably lead to “fewer people doing some of the jobs that the technology actually starts to automate.” While Jassy also stated that Amazon would continue to hire in AI and robotics, he admitted in an internal memo earlier this June that he expects the company’s overall workforce to “shrink in the coming years” due to technological advancements.