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Amazon ( AMZN ) to use AI for advanced warehouse robots

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Generative AI to enhance delivery maps for Amazon ( AMZN ) drivers

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AI to optimize product stocking, reduce carbon emissions

By Greg Bensinger

SAN FRANCISCO, June 4 (Reuters) - Amazon ( AMZN ) wants

customers to know that artificial intelligence is not just for

writing college essays.

In a series of announcements Wednesday, Amazon ( AMZN ) demonstrated

how stockroom robots, delivery people and its sprawling

warehouses will all benefit from a hefty dose of artificial

intelligence, speeding packages to customer doorsteps.

The company said it is forming a new group at its Lab126

device unit focused on creating warehouse robots that will

perform multiple tasks when prompted, a significant advance over

today's robots that typically are designed for a singular job.

Using so-called agentic AI, these robots will be able to

unload trailers and then retrieve parts for repairs, according

to Amazon ( AMZN ).

"We're creating systems that can hear, understand and act on

natural language commands, turning warehouse robots into

flexible, multi-talented assistants," Amazon ( AMZN ) said in a

statement, without providing details such as what the robots

might look like or cost.

Amazon ( AMZN ) described the advances ahead of a press event

Wednesday at Lab126 in Sunnyvale, California, where it gathered

robotics and logistics executives for demonstrations.

Among the additional announcements are that Amazon ( AMZN ) is using

generative AI to create more advanced maps for its delivery

drivers, so that they can more efficiently deliver packages for

the final few yards (metres) of their journeys. The specialized

AI will provide Amazon ( AMZN ) fine detail on building shapes, as well

as obstacles and anything else they may need to navigate a

package drop-off.

"This innovation is making it easier for Amazon ( AMZN ) drivers to

find the right delivery spot, especially in tricky places like

big office complexes," Amazon ( AMZN ) said.

That technology could be critical to specialized eyeglasses

Amazon ( AMZN ) is developing for delivery drivers that Reuters reported

exclusively last year. The company hopes to outfit drivers with

screen-embedded glasses that free their hands from GPS devices

and give them turn by turn directions while driving, as well as

while carrying packages at their destination.

Finally, Amazon ( AMZN ) said it AI will help it more efficiently

predict what products customers will need and where to improve

its same day delivery operations. On a more basic level, it

means that winter coats likely will not be stocked in Phoenix

warehouses in summer though Amazon ( AMZN ) suggested that other factors

the software will consider are price, convenience, relying on

factors such as weather and sales events, like Prime Day.

In its announcement, Amazon ( AMZN ) promised to minimize waste

through less carbon emissions and traffic as the result of the

new AI.