Amazon Tests Humanoid Robots for Package Delivery

Amazon is rapidly advancing its robotics and AI initiatives, testing humanoid robots like Unitree's G1 and Agility Robotics' Digit that could soon deliver packages directly to customers by leaping from Rivian electric vans. These robots are being trialed in a dedicated 'humanoid park' in San Francisco, where they navigate obstacle courses to mimic real-world deliveries. While Amazon states that human drivers will continue operating delivery vans for the time being, the project has sparked concerns about potential job losses for its 275,000 U.S. delivery drivers and the broader impact of automation. Amazon's Lab126 division has launched a new team to develop agentic AI frameworks, aiming to create robots capable of complex, multi-step tasks using natural language commands. The company positions these advancements as solutions to labor shortages and as improvements for logistics safety and efficiency. However, critics express skepticism about the long-term effects on jobs and workplace conditions.