Amazon hits 1 million warehouse robots milestone
Amazon hit a major milestone: it now has 1 million robots deployed across its warehouses worldwide. The one millionth robot landed in a fulfillment center in Japan, the company announced Monday.
The number means robots could soon match the number of human workers in Amazon’s massive warehouse network, according to the Wall Street Journal. WSJ also reported 75% of Amazon’s global deliveries now involve some form of robotic assistance. 
Amazon revealed a new generative AI model called DeepFleet to manage its robot fleet. DeepFleet optimizes warehouse robot routes and boosts their speed by 10%. The AI was built using Amazon SageMaker, trained on Amazon’s own warehouse and inventory data.
Amazon’s fleet is evolving fast. In May, it rolled out Vulcan, a two-armed robot. One arm rearranges inventory, the other has a suction cup and camera to grab items. Vulcan also has a sense of “touch” to handle goods better.
The company is also building “next-generation fulfillment centers” with up to 10 times more robots than before, working alongside humans. The first opened recently in Shreveport, Louisiana.
Amazon’s robotic journey started back in 2012 with its purchase of Kiva Systems, now fully integrated into its warehouse operations.
No immediate comment from Amazon beyond their announcements. TechCrunch reached out for more details.
