Amazon engineers humanoid workforce for final-mile delivery
Amazon is developing artificial intelligence software to deploy humanoid robots capable of navigating obstacles and delivering packages from Rivian electric vans. The company has constructed a specialized indoor testing facility in San Francisco, signaling a shift toward fully automated logistics that extend from warehouse shelves to the customer's front door.
The initiative centers on a "humanoid park" designed to simulate the complexities of last-mile delivery. Amazon aims to integrate these robots into its existing fleet, allowing them to hitch rides in delivery vans and autonomously complete the final walk to a destination. This effort coincides with the formation of a new agentic AI team tasked with building systems that interpret natural language commands, transforming rigid warehouse hardware into flexible, multi-talented assistants.
While Amazon currently employs hundreds of thousands of human workers for these tasks, the company has long signaled an interest in total automation, underscored by its 2020 acquisition of robotaxi firm Zoox. The San Francisco facility is testing a variety of hardware, including units from China-based Unitree. This follows previous trials with Agility Robotics’ Digit, an early prototype designed for similar logistics functions. By moving beyond specialized machinery, Amazon is betting that general-purpose humanoid robots will soon possess the agility to handle the unpredictability of residential deliveries.
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