Amazon Robotics has reached two major milestones in its robotics and AI operations: the deployment of its one millionth robot and the launch of a new generative AI foundation model designed to optimize its global fleet of warehouse robots.
The new AI model, called DeepFleet, is expected to improve robot travel efficiency by 10 percent across Amazon’s fulfillment network, which spans more than 300 facilities worldwide. The company says the technology will support faster customer deliveries and reduce operational costs.
“Think of DeepFleet as an intelligent traffic system for our robotic fleet,” writes Scott Dresser, vice president of Amazon Robotics, in a blog post on one of the company’s websites. “It optimizes how robots move within our facilities, reducing congestion and improving efficiency.”
DeepFleet was developed using Amazon’s vast data on inventory movement and built on Amazon Web Services tools, including SageMaker. The model enables robots to coordinate their routes in real time and continuously learn to improve performance, according to the company.
Amazon’s one millionth robot was recently delivered to a fulfillment center in Japan, marking more than a decade of growth since the company introduced its first warehouse robot in 2012.
Today, Amazon operates a diverse robotic fleet, including:
- Hercules, a robot capable of lifting and moving inventory up to 1,250 pounds.
- Pegasus, which uses precision conveyor belts to handle packages.
- Proteus, Amazon’s first fully autonomous mobile robot that can operate safely in areas shared with human workers.
These machines are designed to take on repetitive and physically demanding tasks, allowing human workers to focus on higher-value roles. Amazon says it has upskilled more than 700,000 employees since 2019 through technical training programs, including its prepaid tuition initiative, Career Choice.
“At our next-generation fulfillment center in Shreveport, Louisiana, robotics have led to a 30 percent increase in reliability, maintenance, and engineering roles,” Dresser said.
Amazon frames DeepFleet not just as an efficiency tool, but as part of its broader strategy to apply AI in practical, measurable ways. The technology also contributes to reduced energy usage and improved workplace safety, the company claims.
“Rather than pursuing technology for its own sake, we’re focused on solving real problems,” Dresser added. “This is how we make generative AI work in the real world.”
Looking ahead, Amazon expects DeepFleet to continue evolving, unlocking new levels of efficiency, enabling more localized inventory storage, and expanding what’s possible in automated logistics.
