The expansion raises questions about long-term employment, though Amazon cites “new roles and upskilled functions” in managing robots as future opportunities.
Amazon has installed its one millionth robot at a fulfillment center in Japan, marking a milestone as its robotic workforce nears parity with human employees in its warehouses.
The rollout includes a new AI model, “DeepFleet,” designed to boost efficiency by improving routing behaviors by up to 10%.
“Amazon claims its new AI algorithm can improve efficiencies to help bring down costs for consumers, and reduce energy use,” the company stated.
The robot fleet has nearly tripled from 350,000 in 2021 to one million in 2025. It features a range of designs, from Roomba-style bots to humanoids and the new “Vulcan” robot with touch sensitivity.
While Amazon says robots “augment” workers, average human staffing has dropped to 670 per warehouse. Each worker now handles over 3,870 packages—up from 175 in 2015.
The expansion raises questions about long-term employment, though Amazon cites “new roles and upskilled functions” in managing robots as future opportunities.