Amazon has been using generative AI to improve its same-day delivery service. The company is using AI to optimize delivery routes, make warehouse robots smarter, and create better working conditions for employees. Steve Armato, Amazon’s vice president of transportation technology and services, said that these changes are part of Amazon’s plan to make same-day delivery more common.
In March, 60% of Prime orders in the top 60 U.S. cities were delivered the same day or the next day. Amazon hopes that generative AI will help increase that number. “Getting just one more product in the right spot means it’s shipping less distance when you order it,” Armato said.
Amazon started using transformer architecture, which is the basis of generative AI, in 2020 to develop models for demand forecasting and supply chain optimization. “Generative AI is the next big evolution in technology,” Armato said. It’s remarkable, and we’re already applying it in very practical ways across our operations.”
However, using generative AI comes with challenges.
Analysts are worried about the high energy demands of generative AI and the possibility of robots replacing human workers. By 2023, the number of Amazon warehouse robots had increased to more than 750,000 from 350,000 in 2021. With the integration of AI transformer models, these robots can now navigate and operate more intelligently.
Armato described the synchronized movements of these robots in the warehouse as being like a “dance floor.” The next generation of Amazon’s drive units, called Proteus, uses AI and computer vision to avoid obstacles and find the best stopping points. Amazon has also partnered with AI startup Covariant to improve robotics. Covariant’s founders have joined Amazon, and their models are helping robots handle a wider range of physical objects.
Amazon’s AI-driven delivery enhancements
Amazon has also developed robotic “Robin” arms that use generative AI insights to determine the necessary pressure to handle different package shapes and sizes. While the move towards more automation has raised concerns about job losses, Armato emphasized that these changes are creating new roles rather than eliminating existing ones.
Amazon plans to invest $1.2 billion to upskill over 300,000 employees by the end of 2025. “Someone needs to maintain the robots if they break down,” Armato explained. “And if something gets dropped, we have trained staff to handle that.
These scenarios create new job categories, some with higher earning potential.”
Amazon is also using AI to improve workplace ergonomics. Many robots transport tall bins of items to workstations, reducing the distance employees need to walk. AI algorithms are also being used to place faster-selling products at waist height to reduce reaching and bending, thus improving ergonomics.
Predictive algorithms have always been important to Amazon’s operations, and generative AI is taking this a step further. By accurately predicting where to place unsold items, Amazon can reduce shipping distances, speeding up delivery and promoting sustainability. Amazon’s extensive data centers, powered by Amazon Web Services, provide the edge needed to train their AI models in-house.
These models are used in everything from supply chain optimization to warehouse robotics. However, the sustainability of generative AI is still uncertain. Training and running AI systems require a lot of resources, which goes against Amazon’s 2019 pledge to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2040.
The company says that AI helps improve their sustainability efforts, but the long-term eco-friendliness still needs to be fully evaluated.
Rashan is a seasoned technology journalist and visionary leader serving as the Editor-in-Chief of DevX.com, a leading online publication focused on software development, programming languages, and emerging technologies. With his deep expertise in the tech industry and her passion for empowering developers, Rashan has transformed DevX.com into a vibrant hub of knowledge and innovation. Reach out to Rashan at [email protected]
