Amazon has announced it has deployed 1 million robots across its warehouses worldwide.

The milestone was marked with the delivery of the one millionth robot to a fulfillment center in Japan, confirmed by the company on June 30, 2025.

This achievement occurs as Amazon works toward balancing the use of robots and human workers in its warehouses.

According to The Wall Street Journal, 75% of Amazon’s global deliveries now involve robotic assistance.

In addition, Amazon introduced a new AI model called DeepFleet. This model is designed to optimize the routes for its warehouse robots and is expected to improve the speed of the robotic fleet by 10%.

Amazon has been enhancing its robotic capabilities since acquiring Kiva Systems in 2012.

The company continues to expand its automation efforts while integrating human and robotic workers into its logistics operations.

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🔗 Source: TechCrunch

🧠 Food for thought

1️⃣ Amazon’s decade-long robotics journey reflects the industry’s automation curve

Amazon’s growth from its 2012 acquisition of Kiva Systems for $775 million to today’s milestone of 1 million robots demonstrates a methodical scaling approach to warehouse automation1.

This progression wasn’t overnight. It took 13 years to reach this milestone, showing how even tech giants must navigate the complexity of integrating robotics at scale2.

The company has systematically developed specialized robots for specific warehouse tasks, including the massive Robo Stow that lifts 3,000-pound pallets, Kiva robots that retrieve items, Pegasus robots that autonomously route parcels, and the modular Xanthus robots that handle various functions2.

This diversification strategy has enabled Amazon to automate different aspects of fulfillment gradually rather than attempting full automation at once, creating a blueprint that competitors like FedEx and UPS are now following with their own automation investments3.

The new DeepFleet AI model represents the next evolution, using generative AI to coordinate robot routes more efficiently and increase speeds by 10%, showing how machine learning is becoming critical to managing increasingly complex robotic systems.

2️⃣ The economics of warehouse automation are reaching an inflection point

Amazon’s approach to warehouse automation reflects broader industry economics, with 42% of businesses now planning to allocate funds equivalent to their annual warehousing expenditures for automation technology4.

The company’s evolution toward having potentially the same number of robots as human workers represents a significant shift in the cost-effectiveness of automation technologies that were previously too expensive or complex for widespread deployment.

Amazon’s $1 billion Industrial Innovation Fund highlights how the company views automation as a long-term strategic investment rather than merely a cost-saving measure4.

The company’s quarterly reports indicate that automation has become a key driver in enabling same-day and next-day delivery capabilities, transforming these premium services from loss leaders into financially sustainable offerings5.

Industry forecasts predict that 75% of large enterprises will integrate smart robots into warehouse operations by 2026, suggesting Amazon’s approach is becoming the industry standard rather than the exception4.

3️⃣ Automation is reshaping warehouse work rather than simply eliminating it

Amazon’s collaboration with MIT to research how automation impacts industrial jobs highlights the company’s awareness of workforce concerns as it scales its robotics operations6.

Rather than completely replacing workers, Amazon’s automation approach has focused on eliminating physically demanding and repetitive tasks, such as heavy lifting and excessive walking, while creating new roles supervising and maintaining robotic systems7.

Amazon’s focus on ergonomics through robots like Sequoia and Sparrow has helped address workplace safety concerns by reducing physical strain on workers, potentially decreasing injury rates while maintaining productivity7.

This transition represents a significant shift in warehouse employment, moving from primarily manual labor toward roles that involve managing and overseeing automated systems—requiring different skills but not necessarily fewer workers4.

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