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DARTFORD: Amazon on Thursday unveiled an upgraded AI-powered mobile robot for its warehouses that can respond to conversational prompts, as part of a 10 billion ($11.6 billion) investment in its European fulfilment network.
The Seattle-based e-commerce giant showcased the next-generation Proteus robot at its “Delivering the Future” event at its Dartford fulfilment centre east of London, as it works to speed up deliveries.
The current Proteus, deployed at 25 U.S. sites, operates only in dock areas, moving carts weighing up to nearly 400 kg (882 lbs). The new version, due in Europe in the first half of 2027, can operate across warehouse floors and marks a shift in how employees interact with robots.
“You tell it what needs to be done. It figures out the priority, the route, the timing,” said Scott Dresser, vice president of Amazon Robotics.
