From the flying cars of "The Jetsons" to the virtual world of the Matrix, the vision of a future where technology frees humans from mundane, boring jobs has always been an endless source of inspiration.
The kids who were fascinated by that vision are now grown up, engineers and CEOs of the world's leading technology corporations. And they are turning those futuristic dreams into reality.
Amazon, with a market capitalization of up to 2,000 billion USD, is at the forefront of this revolution, but the question is: Are we going too fast, too far?
Inside Amazon's secret 'robot park'
According to a shocking report from the prestigious technology news site The Information, Amazon is accelerating progress on one of its most ambitious projects: developing artificial intelligence (AI) software specifically for humanoid robots. The ultimate goal is to create robot “employees” capable of handling the entire last-mile delivery process, which is often the most labor-intensive part of the process.
To make this plan a reality, Amazon has built a special testing ground in San Francisco, described by one insider as a “humanoid robot park.” The facility, which is about the size of a small coffee shop, is designed like a complex obstacle course to simulate real-world delivery conditions.
Inside the testing area, an electric Rivian delivery van (which Amazon uses in tens of thousands across the US) was ready.
Here, humanoid robots will be trained to perform complex tasks: moving inside the vehicle, correctly identifying packages, and most importantly, "jumping" out of the vehicle, going to the door and completing the delivery automatically.
The project demonstrates a clear strategy: Amazon will develop the AI software—the brains—of the robots itself, while partnering with companies to manufacture the hardware—their bodies. After testing in a controlled environment at the “robot park,” the company plans to conduct real-world “field trips,” a crucial step toward bringing the technology to the world.
Amazon recently purchased 20,000 electric vehicles to equip these robots (Photo: Getty).
The never-ending journey of automation
This isn’t the first time Amazon has sought to replace humans with machines. The giant’s automation drive is a long-term strategy, with heavy investment over the past decade aimed at optimizing operations and shortening delivery times.
In 2013, the world first learned about Amazon’s ambitions with the announcement of its drone delivery program. However, after more than 10 years of testing and numerous obstacles, the project has yet to take off on a large scale.
In 2023, Amazon partnered with Agility Robotics to test Digit, a humanoid robot designed to work in warehouses. Agility’s CEO said at the time that the goal was to make “the employee experience safer, easier, and less repetitive.” Employees would act as “robot managers,” delegating manual tasks to machines.
In 2024, Amazon continued to receive a license in the UK to test flying drones beyond direct human control, another step showing its determination to pursue autonomous aerial deliveries.
The current humanoid delivery robot project is the culmination of this effort. It goes beyond warehouses and the skies, aiming directly at the final customer interaction, an area traditionally considered the exclusive domain of humans.
The future of workers is in big question
While these technological advances may be good news for investors and consumers looking to get their goods faster, they pose an existential threat to the massive workforce in the transportation industry.
If Amazon’s experiment is successful, even if a human driver is still required behind the wheel, the robots could significantly speed up deliveries by handling one address while the driver moves on to the next. Further down the line, with Amazon investing heavily in self-driving technology through its subsidiary Zoox, a future without humans in the delivery process is entirely possible.
This scenario could lead to the displacement of thousands, even millions, of delivery workers worldwide, causing a serious employment crisis and raising thorny social questions.
From the Lab to the Pavement: A Road Full of Thorns
Despite Amazon’s grand ambitions, experts remain cautious about its near-term viability. Professor Subramanian Ramamoorthy, chair of machine learning and robotics at the University of Edinburgh, said that while hardware for humanoid robots is advancing rapidly, the biggest challenge remains operating reliably in the chaotic real world.
“If Amazon limited the scope of its operations to, say, areas with clear driveways, standard door layouts, and standard surroundings, the task would be much simpler,” he explains.
However, the reality is much more complicated. "When the environment becomes complex and variable, such as the presence of a pet or a child running out unexpectedly, or simply a non-standard step, the problem becomes much more difficult."
Achieving consistent and absolutely safe performance outside the controlled environment of a “robot park” is a mountain that even Amazon’s talented team of robotics engineers will take years to conquer.
Amazon has yet to comment on the reports. But what’s happening inside the San Francisco testing facility is clear: the automation revolution is taking a big step forward. Humanoid robots are coming out of the movies. The question for society is no longer “will they come,” but “how prepared are we when they do come knocking on our doors?”
Source: https://dantri.com.vn/kinh-doanh/robot-giao-hang-cua-amazon-dot-pha-cong-nghe-hay-ke-huy-diet-viec-lam-20250606220019599.htm
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