Source Credit : Portfolio Prints
Amazon on Thursday unveiled a next-generation AI-powered warehouse robot capable of responding to conversational commands, marking a significant step in the company's automation strategy as part of a €10 billion ($11.6 billion) investment in its European fulfillment network.
The Seattle-based e-commerce giant introduced the upgraded Proteus robot during its "Delivering the Future" event at the company's Dartford fulfillment center near London, highlighting its efforts to accelerate deliveries and improve warehouse efficiency through artificial intelligence.
Unlike the current Proteus system, which operates exclusively in loading dock areas and transports carts weighing up to 400 kilograms (882 pounds), the new version will be able to navigate throughout warehouse floors and collaborate more seamlessly with human workers.
The upgraded robot represents a major shift in warehouse automation, enabling employees to communicate with machines using natural language rather than predefined commands.
"You tell it what needs to be done. It figures out the priority, the route, and the timing," said Scott Dresser, Vice President of Amazon Robotics.
Amazon also showcased STARK, an advanced robotic tote-handling system that was first piloted in Barcelona and is scheduled for deployment across 15 European facilities by 2027. The company further highlighted Vulcan, its first robot equipped with a sense of touch, allowing it to handle items with greater precision and adaptability.
The announcements underscore Amazon's broader push to modernize its logistics network through AI-driven automation while reducing delivery times for customers.
As part of its expansion plans, Amazon said it will open more than 25 sub-same-day delivery hubs across Europe this year, including new facilities in the United Kingdom and Germany. The company will also expand Amazon Now, its ultra-fast essentials delivery service, to the British cities of Manchester and Birmingham.
Amazon revealed that same-day delivery for fresh groceries is now available in more than 2,300 cities across the United States, as well as selected areas of Tokyo. The service is expected to expand further across Japan, the United Kingdom, and other international markets in the coming months.
The company also announced that Alexa+, its next-generation AI-powered assistant, will launch in ten additional countries in 2027, extending Amazon's AI ecosystem beyond logistics and into consumer-facing services.
The latest announcements come as Amazon intensifies its investment in artificial intelligence infrastructure. In February, the company projected a more than 50% increase in capital expenditure, reaching approximately $200 billion this year, joining other major technology firms in a race to build the computing capacity required for next-generation AI systems.
With advanced robotics, expanded delivery networks, and growing AI capabilities, Amazon is positioning itself to redefine both warehouse operations and customer fulfillment on a global scale.
