Amazon's Millionth Warehouse Robot Is Here And It's Getting Smarter
Amazon Robotics announced last week that it just hit a major milestone with over one million warehouse robots deployed. In addition to the announcement, the company unveiled DeepFleet, a new AI foundation model that acts like a traffic controller for its machines, helping them move more efficiently avoid bottlenecks.
Amazon CEO Andy Jassy recently tweeted a simple question: 'How can we help operations employees access inventory more efficiently?' The company says that's the north star for its robotics strategy. These machines aren't about replacing people, they're about speeding things up.
From a Handful to a Million Robots
Amazon started testing shelf-moving robots back in 2012. Since then, the use of warehouse-floor robots has become central to how Amazon fills orders, with over a million robots now operating across more than 300 warehouses. These robots are now the workhorses of Amazon's fulfillment centers. The millionth unit came off the production line in Japan, marking the shift from simple conveyors to fully automated helpers.
These bots aren't just flashy, but they do heavy lifting, literally. The robots are squat robotic carts the size of a footstool. They slide under a shelving tower, lift the whole rack, and bring it to a worker who plucks the ordered item. When the shelf is empty, the robot puts it back and hunts for the next pick.
Every trip it makes shaves a little walking time from a human packer's shift and pushes an order closer to getting out the door. It's all about cutting down the time it takes to get an order from shelf to shipping box.
DeepFleet: Real-Time Routing for Robots
The newly announced DeepFleet system is built on Amazon's AWS infrastructure and uses live warehouse data to reroute robots on the fly. It looks for jams or bottlenecks and finds better paths, helping robots avoid wasting time in the warehouse equivalent of a traffic jam.
'Think of DeepFleet as an intelligent traffic management system for a city filled with cars moving through congested streets,' says Scott Dresser, VP of Amazon Robotics. 'DeepFleet coordinates our robots' movements to optimize how they navigate our fulfillment centers. This means less congestion, more efficient paths, and faster processing of customer orders.'
The new AI model learns on the fly to steer bots around slow spots, cutting their travel time by about 10 percent and speeding up customer orders. That smarter routing means fewer delays and more predictable delivery times for customers.
According to Amazon: More Tech Jobs, Not Fewer
In Shreveport, Louisiana, Amazon opened a new fulfillment center last year with its latest generation of robots. According to the company, those robots didn't replace jobs, they created new ones.
'Advanced robotics require 30% more employees in reliability, maintenance, and engineering roles,' Dresser said.
New roles range from motor repair techs to data analysts. Repair techs keep the bots rolling, and the analysts use data insights to track robot movement patterns to spot delays. It's not just about operating machines for these new roles, it's about maintaining and improving them.
Since 2019, more than 700,000 Amazon workers have joined programs to build up their tech skills. Whether those workers stay at Amazon or move on, the company says the experience prepares them for jobs in an increasingly automated economy.
The Bigger Automation Picture
Amazon's not alone in using bots to automate the warehouse. U.K.-based Ocado uses thousands of compact bots in its grocery warehouses. The bots zip across grid-like platforms, picking items with near-perfect accuracy. The system can pack a customer's order in seconds.
Walmart is working with Symbotic to bring robot-powered sorting to 42 of its distribution centers by 2030. Their CasePick robots can sort cases in under a minute, helping speed up restocking in stores.
The trend is clear: companies are investing in automation not just to move faster, but to rethink how and where human workers fit into the process.
What's Next for Amazon Robotics
Amazon plans to use data from DeepFleet to cut down energy use inside its warehouses. The company is also experimenting with smaller, more nimble 'micro-fulfillment' centers closer to big cities. That could mean faster delivery and a smaller carbon footprint.
Eventually, Amazon says AI won't just direct traffic. It'll help decide what products to stock and when, turning warehouses into systems that adjust themselves in real time.
'This is just the beginning. As DeepFleet learns from more data, it will continue to get smarter, driving deeper efficiencies, unlocking more selection closer to customers, and reimagining what's possible in robotic logistics,' Dresser says.
The big unknown? How people will fit into a world where machines not only move the shelves but make the decisions too.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
CNET
18 minutes ago
- CNET
The Beatbot Robot Pool Cleaner Is at Its Lowest Price Ever for Prime Day
Cleaning and maintaining a pool is time-consuming and expensive. Some estimates put the yearly cost at anywhere from $1,000 to $6,000 or more, all for the chance to bask in the sun next to a clean pool. If you've ever thought about offloading the task to a robot, you're in luck, because the Beatbox Aquasense 2 Pro is on sale for 32% off. That puts it at its lowest price ever. We buried the lede a little bit, so let's back up a bit. One of these pool cleaning robots retails for $2,899, and with its 32% discount, that puts the price at $1,969, which translates to $930 of savings. Per CamelCamelCamel, its previous best price was around $2,100, so you can save even more if you act fast. The deal is available on Amazon or from Beatbot's website, and you can order from either one. However, Amazon's listing boasts a free item, which is Beatbot's all-weather protective cover for the AquaSense 2 Pro, adding another $50 of value. The deal will most likely end at the end of the Prime Day event, so act fast if you're interested. Here's a list of the best robot vacuums that we've tested. To be clear, our experts loved the BeatBot's performance, but it's (normally) high price kept it out of the top. Even at its sale price, $1,969 is quite a lot of money, so you're probably wondering what this little guy does. Beatbot introduced the world to the AquaSense 2 Pro at CES 2025, so it's one of the brand's newest products. It works by using its AI-powered camera to map your pool, and then it'll spend its days leisurely cleaning it so you don't have to. Those same cameras act as the robot's eyes, scanning your pool for any dirt or particles that may be floating around so that it can mosey on over and clean it up. Beatbot's AquaSense has premium features and a best-in-class battery life. David Watsky/CNET In terms of actual cleaning, the bot handles just about all of it. It can clean the bottom or walls of the pool, including the waterline where debris tends to lap up onto the pool lining, which makes it competitive with other pool cleaning robots. While it's there, it can skim the surface of the water to remove debris floating on the surface while also cleaning the water of dirt and residue. When it's done, it'll float on the water near the edge of the pool so you can retrieve it. Should the bot miss a spot, Beatbot also has an app that lets you control it manually. Let us help you find more deals. CNET Deals texts are free, easy and can save you money. A robot pool cleaner like this is great to have for people who have pools. If you stumbled into this article and you don't have a pool, there are still plenty of other deals you can surf. For instance, regular robot vacuum cleaners can also save you time by cleaning your hard floors and carpets. Save time, and maybe even some money too Pool cleaning robots get very expensive, and the more features you pack into a bot, the more expensive it gets. The AquaSense 2 Pro has nearly every feature you can ask for, which makes it competitive in the space already. At a $930 discount, that brings it in line with less expensive pool cleaning robots that offer fewer features for the same amount of money. Factor in the time you save by not having to clean the pool all the time and the cost savings of having to bring someone out to clean it for you (or repair it due to lack of maintenance), and you could potentially earn this money back in pretty short order. Plus, with a three-year warranty, Beatbot will replace your robot if it comes with a defect.
Politico
28 minutes ago
- Politico
‘Essential isn't a strong enough word': Loss of foreign workers begins to bite US economy
'President Trump is a tireless advocate for American farmers – they keep our families fed and our country prosperous. He trusts farmers and is committed to ensuring they have the workforce needed to remain successful,' White House spokesperson Abigail Jackson said in a statement. 'But there will be no safe harbor for the countless, unvetted, criminal illegal aliens that Joe Biden let waltz into the country.' The administration exacerbated the situation Monday, revoking legal status for approximately 76,000 people from Honduras and Nicaragua – and eliminating their work authorizations. It had previously done so for Haitians, Afghans, Venezuelans and Cameroonians. Some large corporations that rely on foreign-born workers, including those with protected status people admitted under other programs, have already felt the impacts. In May, Disney reportedly began cutting workers with temporary legal status, and Walmart took a similar step last month. Foreign-born workers at Amazon have reported receiving similar notices. Walmart and Amazon declined to comment. Disney did not respond to requests for comment. Mass arrests of people without legal status have sent a chill through several industries as Immigration and Customs Enforcement conducts raids around the country. Agriculture businesses have expressed concern about the knock-on effects of ICE raids – that they deter even legal workers from showing up to work, worsening existing labor shortages and jeopardizing crops. Trump's immigration actions are squeezing the labor market even as some broader economic trends remain positive. Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell has repeatedly indicated as much, including at a congressional hearing in June, where he said economic growth is 'slowing' due to a shrinking labor force. Tightening the labor market through strict immigration enforcement could permanently increase inflation, an Oxford Economics study from June finds, pointing to subsequent increases in production costs and lower output due to limited workers. Uncertainty in the labor market could contribute to an 'economic malaise,' said Stuart Anderson, executive director at the nonpartisan think tank National Foundation for American Policy. 'If you want to have a growing economy, you need to have a growing labor force,' Anderson said. 'The idea that you are just going to create more opportunity by having fewer workers available just doesn't work in practice, because that's not the way business runs.' Trump has signaled some willingness to ease access to foreign-born labor specifically for farmers and hospitality workers – industries he has long prioritized as a key political constituency. Agriculture lobbyists have pushed the administration for an expansion of the seasonal visa program to apply to year-round workers and an easing of wage requirements. Neither the administration nor Congress have yet to announce concrete steps on a solution for those groups despite Trump's rhetoric, and any moves would need to be extensive to offset the exodus of workers. 'American produce growers are facing a severe labor shortage that's driving up food prices and threatening domestic production,' Sarah Gonzalez, spokesperson for the International Fresh Produce Association, said. 'We appreciate President Trump's recognition of this crisis and any efforts to stabilize the agricultural workforce. But lasting solutions require bipartisan legislation that ensures U.S. farmers have access to a legal, reliable workforce.'
Yahoo
29 minutes ago
- Yahoo
ORCL Stock Warning: Analysts Say Oracle May Need to Raise Cash Soon
Oracle (ORCL) is a provider of cloud-based solutions that touch database and middleware software, cloud infrastructure, infrastructure as a service, and software as a service. Oracle's stock is up 41% YTD after rallying close to 90% in the last 3 months. The stock easily outperforms the benchmark S&P 500 Index ($SPX), which has gained just under 6% YTD. Oracle's stock is also up 62% in the 52-week timeframe while trading at its all-time high. This Analyst Just Raised His Broadcom Stock Price Target by 70%. Should You Buy AVGO Now? 2 ETFs Offering Juicy Dividend Yields of 20% or Higher Why Alibaba Stock Looks Like a Screaming Buy After Falling 27% From Its 2025 Highs Tired of missing midday reversals? The FREE Barchart Brief newsletter keeps you in the know. Sign up now! Barclays analyst Keith Bachman has issued a note to clients warning of Oracle's limited liquidity. The analyst has assigned a 'Outperform' rating to the tech giant, with a price target of $245, indicating upside of 5% from the current market level. Despite his rating and price target, Bachman is concerned about Oracle's future capital needs. The analyst pointed toward the company's increased expenditure pattern, as well as the cash it needs for dividends and planned share buybacks. He believes that Oracle might need to raise capital in the following years, most likely its fiscal 2026 or 2027. Bachman anticipates Oracle to further boost its artificial intelligence (AI) expenditure, which, coupled with its high-value debt maturity, indicates the company's need for close to $20 billion over the next two years. The analyst warns that despite the situation being manageable at present, several capital-raising events might hamper its earnings. Bachman anticipates Oracle's free cash flow could turn a negative $1 billion in FY26 and $100 million in FY27, far below consensus estimates of $213 billion and $1.957 billion, respectively. Bachman says that the company might look to raise $10 billion in FY26 and another $10 billion in FY27. This translates to a cost of $0.14 per share. Oracle's latest financial report came on June 11, when the company posted its fiscal fourth-quarter results showing a profit of $3.43 billion or $1.70 per adjusted share. The figure surpassed analysts' $1.64 per share estimate. Revenue for the quarter came to $15.9 billion again beating Wall Street's $15.54 billion estimate. The company's cloud services and license support segment contributed $11.7 billion, up 14%, while cloud infrastructure (OCI) revenue surged 52% to $3 billion, reflecting heightened demand for AI and multicloud solutions. Oracle's remaining performance obligations (RPO) climbed 41% to $138 billion, signaling strong future revenue visibility. For the full fiscal year, Oracle generated $57.4 billion in revenue, up 8%, with operating cash flow of $20.8 billion, a 12% increase. CEO Safra Catz projected even stronger growth in FY26, with cloud infrastructure revenue expected to grow over 70% and total cloud revenue by more than 40%. Oracle has garnered some optimistic views on the Wall Street with a consensus 'Moderate Buy' rating and a mean price target of $222.44, which is 5% below the stock's current trading price. The stock has been rated by 35 analysts with 22 'Strong Buy' ratings, one 'Moderate Buy' rating, and 12 'Hold' ratings. On the date of publication, Ruchi Gupta did not have (either directly or indirectly) positions in any of the securities mentioned in this article. All information and data in this article is solely for informational purposes. This article was originally published on Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
