Amazon's New Robots and AI Look to Remake the Warehouse

Amazon revealed a trio of new AI and robotics systems—Blue Jay, Project Eluna, and smart delivery glasses—designed to make its massive fulfillment and delivery network faster and more efficient, further deepening its investment in automation.

• The warehouse gets a brain: The new star of the show is Blue Jay, a robotic system that consolidates the work of three separate stations into a single hub, reportedly handling about three-quarters of the items Amazon stocks. It's paired with Project Eluna, an AI "teammate" for managers that processes data to spot operational bottlenecks before they happen, allowing operators to ask simple questions like, "Where should we shift people to avoid a bottleneck?"

• A new point of view: The company also confirmed it is developing AI-powered smart glasses for its delivery personnel, a project first reported by Reuters. The wearable device gives drivers a hands-free experience with a heads-up display for navigation and package information, reducing their reliance on phones.

• The human cost: While Amazon frames these innovations as tools to empower employees, the announcements come amid ongoing scrutiny of its automation strategy. The reveal follows a New York Times report that the company's automation plans could allow it to avoid hiring hundreds of thousands of workers in the coming years.

Amazon is doubling down on its vision for a human-robot workforce, betting that advanced automation is the key to faster delivery and lower costs. The move intensifies the debate over the future of warehouse labor and pressures competitors to accelerate their own robotics strategies. Amazon's tech push also includes using virtual reality to train its drivers for real-world road challenges. Meanwhile, the conversation around automation's impact on jobs continues, with some reports suggesting Amazon's long-term robotics plan could eventually replace hundreds of thousands of workers.