Can chat, can plan, and can act autonomously! Amazon's new generation AI warehouse robot debuts.

Amazon is embedding artificial intelligence deeply into its warehouse automation system. The e-commerce giant has released a new generation of AI warehouse robot Proteus. Employees do not need to program; they can issue instructions directly using natural language, and the robot will autonomously plan routes, prioritize, and complete tasks. This upgrade marks a fundamental shift in the model of human-machine collaboration.

Amazon officially unveiled the new generation of Proteus at the "Delivering the Future" event held at the Dartford Fulfillment Center in the UK on June 4. The robot can respond to conversational instructions and is a key part of Amazon's plan to invest 10 billion euros (about $11.6 billion) in its European fulfillment network. The new Proteus is expected to be deployed in Europe in the first half of 2027.

This upgrade is not only a technological iteration but also reflects Amazon's strategy to accelerate automation replacing manual labor. At the same time, Amazon showcased the tactile robot Vulcan and its pallet handling system STARK, and announced the expansion of its ultra-fast delivery network in Europe, further strengthening its competitive barriers in the European market.

Natural language interaction, Proteus achieves a leap in upgrades

The most fundamental change in the new generation of Proteus is the innovation in its interaction method. Previously, warehouse employees needed to use specialized software to issue commands to this ground robot responsible for moving heavy loads and large carts. With the introduction of AI capabilities in the new version, employees can communicate task requirements directly to the robot as if talking to a colleague.

"You tell it what needs to be done, and it will handle prioritization, route, and scheduling itself," said Scott Dresser, Amazon’s Vice President of Robotics.

In terms of operational scope, the new generation of Proteus also makes significant expansion. The current Proteus is deployed only in loading/unloading areas at 25 sites in the US, responsible for moving carts weighing up to nearly 400 kilograms; the new version can operate in all areas of the warehouse, covering transfer after goods arrive, circulation between workstations, and assisting employees throughout the fulfillment and delivery center process.

Currently, the new Proteus is being piloted in Amazon labs and is planned to be launched in Europe in the first half of 2027.

Robot matrix expansion, Vulcan and STARK advancing together

Proteus is not the only robotic achievement showcased by Amazon. At the Dartford event, Amazon also displayed Vulcan—its first robot with tactile sensing capabilities—and STARK—a collaborative pallet handling system initially piloted in Barcelona.

According to Reuters, STARK is planned to be expanded to 15 sites in Europe by 2027, and Vulcan will also be promoted to more European sites within the next year.

The concentrated introduction of this series of robots is part of Amazon’s broader automation road map, aimed at systematically improving fulfillment efficiency by using multiple types of robots to coordinate and cover different aspects of warehouse operations.

Ten billion euro bet on Europe, delivery network speeds up across the board

Behind the robot upgrades is Amazon’s large-scale capital investment in the European market. At this event, Amazon announced an investment of 10 billion euros in the European fulfillment network, and will add more than 25 ultra-fast "next day" delivery stations in markets such as the UK and Germany this year.

In the UK market, Amazon’s ultra-fast essential goods delivery service, Amazon Now, will be expanded to Manchester and Birmingham. Meanwhile, Amazon stated that its same-day grocery delivery service now covers more than 2,300 cities in the US and parts of Tokyo, and plans to further expand to Japan, the UK, and other countries in the coming months.

Additionally, Amazon announced that its next-generation AI assistant Alexa+ will be launched in 10 new countries in 2027.

Automation speeds up, employment controversies continue

As the automation layout accelerates, external concerns about robots replacing humans are also rising. In response, Amazon maintains its usual stance, emphasizing that robots are intended to support employees and optimize operations rather than massively replace human labor, and states that since robots were introduced, Amazon has added hundreds of thousands of jobs worldwide.

However, this statement has not completely dispelled market concerns. The autonomous planning and all-area operation capabilities of the new Proteus objectively mean that robots can handle more warehouse tasks previously reliant on manual labor.

From a broader perspective, Amazon predicted in February this year that its capital expenditure would grow more than 50% year-on-year to $200 billion, joining the race among tech giants to expand AI infrastructure. This iteration and upgrade of warehouse robots is the specific realization of this capital expenditure wave in logistics automation.

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