WIRED Consulting’s Post

Are Amazon’s warehouse workers about to be replaced by AI robots — once and for all? ➡️ Amazon’s latest move to transform its warehouses involves acquiring key talent from Covariant, an AI robotics startup. Covariant has been working on solving the last big puzzle in warehouse automation: giving robots the dexterity and intelligence to handle a wide variety of physical objects. ➡️ With this new partnership, Amazon aims to apply Covariant’s advanced AI models to improve robotic picking systems, potentially reducing the need for human labor in the future. Covariant’s AI grasping technology, which mimics how humans handle different objects, could revolutionize the logistics industry, much like Amazon’s acquisition of Kiva Systems did in 2012. ❓ However, there are challenges, including the high cost of development and the technical complexity of automating such tasks. Could this be the start of a new era where Amazon’s fulfillment centers rely entirely on AI-driven robots, leaving humans behind? What does this mean for the future of work? Read the full story on Wired: https://lnkd.in/gE_YKW54 #Robotics #Amazon #AI #Robots #FutureofWork #Warehouse ---- 💡 𝗜𝗳 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗲𝗻𝗷𝗼𝘆𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗻𝘁, 𝗯𝗲 𝘀𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗱𝗼𝘄𝗻𝗹𝗼𝗮𝗱 𝗺𝘆 𝗻𝗲𝘄 𝗮𝗽𝗽 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗮 𝘂𝗻𝗶𝗾𝘂𝗲 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗯𝗲𝘆𝗼𝗻𝗱 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗱𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗻𝗲𝘄𝘀𝗹𝗲𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿 - you can have real-time insights, recommendations (a lot more than I share here) and conversations with my digital twin via text, audio or video in 28 languages! Join >6000 users who went before and go to app.thedigitalspeaker.com to sign up and take our connection to the next level! 🚀

This is incredible. AI software agents are impressive, but real-world robotic AI is one of the hardest problems to solve. If you've ordered from Amazon, one of millions of AI robots likely handled your package. Soon, we'll see them in the skies, in space, and even digging tunnels on the moon and Mars. The gap between AI leaders and others is widening rapidly, leaving many companies and governments far behind. Personally, I'm eager to call a #robotaxi, to avoid driving. BUT, will they take #bitcoin? #robotics #realworldAI #robotaxi #ai #agents Tesla Amazon Fulfillment Technologies & Robotics Amazon #writtenbyahuman https://lnkd.in/gEFUD5zB

Amazon's recent unveiling of its next-generation robotic warehouses, spearheaded by the ever-intriguing Tye Brady, has me buzzing with excitement. This isn't just about efficiency gains (although, let's be honest, who doesn't love a well-oiled logistics machine?). This is about pushing the boundaries of what's possible in warehouse automation, and the implications for the future of work are nothing short of fascinating. Think about it: a symphony of robots, from nimble wheeled AMRs to the powerful Sequoia storage and retrieval system, working in concert to fulfill orders. Brady's emphasis on improved AI for handling non-standard items adds another layer of sophistication. We're moving beyond the realm of simple box-moving bots and entering an era of intelligent automation. Of course, the "robots taking over our jobs" narrative is bound to come up. But here's the thing: these advancements are more likely to create new opportunities than eliminate existing ones. Imagine human workers freed from repetitive tasks, focusing on problem-solving, oversight, and potentially even robot training and programming! These warehouses could become hubs for innovation in human-robot collaboration. Now, let's not get carried away by sci-fi visions. Ethical considerations around worker displacement and the responsible use of AI in the workplace remain paramount. Nevertheless, Amazon's vision for the future of warehousing is undeniably inspiring. It's a testament to the power of AI and robotics to streamline processes, improve efficiency, and potentially reshape the very nature of work in the logistics industry. https://lnkd.in/dpTBPxAU #ai #robotics #warehouseautomation #futureofwork #Amazon #TyeBrady #logistics #innovation #humanrobotcollaboration

The combination of robotics and AI for industrial processes - Industrial AI, is still one of the high-value areas in AI. More work must be done to reduce costs, but the impact on heavy machinery and sometimes hazardous processes could be huge! #ai #industryai #industrialai #machinelearning #logistics #supplychain #genai #robotics #generativeai

The Digit robot is designed to replace the warehouse worker. Yes, you read that right. Agility Robotics (https://lnkd.in/dPb99wbP) is working on mass-producing its humanoid warehouse robot, Digit. The robot costs $250,000, and the company plans to produce 10,000 of them a year. If you think that $250,000 per robot is a lot of money, this one is designed to work where humans work and doesn't require any breaks, never calls in sick, and never goes home. We keep talking about how robots won't take human jobs, but this is clearly an example of where they definitely can. That said, viewing the video below, you can see that Digit is working alongside humans, so we can all get along in that scenario. By the way, Amazon currently has 750,000 robots working in its warehouses and still employs thousands of humans. #robots #ai #amazon #amazonrobot #digit Agility Robotics #eti Sam Evans Rob Mann Rene Little Kevin Witt Ken Levy Kate Morgan Scott Kramer

As Amazon's robot ranks swell, workers worry about their future Amazon has long insisted that the advanced robots being introduced to its warehouses aren't meant to replace humans. But believing that claim isn't easy when the number of machines deployed in its facilities has more than doubled over the last few years. Amazon's use of robots in its fulfillment centers and warehouses goes back more than a decade, but it really started ramping up the numbers in recent times, from 350,000 robots in 2021 to more than 750,000 by June 2023. It's not just the number of robots Amazon is introducing that's worrying workers; it's their human-like design. In October last year, the tech giant announced Digit, a 5-foot 9-inch 143-pound robot from Agility Robotics, was being deployed to warehouses. The two-legged machine can walk forward, backward, and sideways; squat and bend; and move, grasp, and handle items using its arm/hand-like clasps. Basically, it can imitate almost everything that a human can do, and without needing to pee in a bottle or take time off for stress. There have been plenty of regular, non-human-like robots added to Amazon warehouses, too, including the Roomba-esque Sequoia, the fully autonomous Proteus, a robotic arm called Sparrow, and more, each more advanced than the last in terms of design and the software behind them. Damion Shelton, CEO of Agility Robotics, didn't seem as concerned about alleviating job-loss fears. In December, he said that the health of businesses using these robots was far more dire than any perceived fears about job replacement. Amazon, incidentally, has a nearly $2 trillion market cap and its annual gross profit for 2023 was more than $270 billion. Like virtually every other tech firm, Amazon has been cutting jobs this year. CEO Andy Jassy said last month that the company isn't done with lowering costs as it embraces not only robots but also that other "this will help and not replace people, honest" technology: generative AI. Jassy believes the tech will be as big as the cloud and as important as the advent of the internet. https://lnkd.in/gbUeVrJj

In a move that could reshape the landscape of #warehouseautomation, #Amazon has partnered with robotics software firm #Covariant to advance its work to incorporate #AI into its already extensive #robotic systems. This partnership, which includes the acquisition of key Covariant staff, will give the e-retailer non-exclusive licence to Covariant’s #robotic foundation #AImodels. #warehousing #automation #robotics #efficiency #productivity #retailing

An interesting article for your #MondayMotivation AI is transforming pick-and-place robotics, optimizing efficiency, and adapting to dynamic warehouse environments. These systems now mimic human decision-making, learning from each task, and continuously improving. From e-commerce to pharmaceuticals, AI-powered robots deliver precision, agility, and reliability. The future of warehouse operations lies in this AI-driven adaptability, unlocking unprecedented productivity. 🚀 What challenges or opportunities do you foresee as these systems become more autonomous? #AI #Robotics #Automation #WarehouseEfficiency" 🔗 https://lnkd.in/dBhn5ucw

This is not a new article but one i stumbled across again today and felt it was worth posting. This is a fantastic insight to how Amazon Fulfillment Technologies & Robotics solved some of the toughest challenges within stowing products (at one point deemed impossible to solve). This is a great example of Innovation and machine learning at its finest to ensure Amazon operations operate as efficiently as possible. Great work by Aaron Parness, Parker Owan (ex Amazon), Siddhartha Srinivasa (ex Amazon) and many others. #robotics #machinelearning #innovation #engineering

Amazon is leveraging artificial intelligence and robotics to transform the way we shop and receive goods. 🛍 With the world's largest fleet of industrial mobile robots, Amazon is redefining warehouse operations and supply chain logistics. These sophisticated AI-powered robots can efficiently navigate complex environments and work alongside human employees, leading to a 40% improvement in storage density compared to traditional systems. But it doesn't stop there. Amazon's latest robot, Proteus, features advanced AI-powered perception systems, enabling it to navigate through crowded spaces much like a person at a cocktail party. 🍸 With human-like features and visual indicators, Proteus is designed to create a harmonious work environment where robots and humans can collaborate effectively. The future of human-robot collaboration is not just about efficiency; it's about creating better, safer jobs. By automating routine tasks and enhancing human capabilities, AI and robotics could free us to focus on uniquely human skills like creativity, empathy, and complex problem-solving. How do you think AI and robotics will shape the future of work? Let me know in the comments! #AI #Robotics #FutureOfWork #Innovation