Amazon has initiated a trial of humanoid robots at one of its US warehouses, aiming to automate certain operations. The two-legged robot, named Digit, is designed to grasp and lift items, currently being utilized for shifting empty tote boxes within the warehouse. However, concerns have been raised about the potential impact on Amazon’s extensive human workforce of nearly 1.5 million individuals.
Tye Brady, Amazon Robotics’ chief technologist, acknowledged that the deployment of robots might lead to some job redundancies but argued that it would also create new opportunities. Digit, developed by Agility Robotics with Amazon’s investment through its Industrial Innovation Fund, represents a departure from the company’s previous warehouse robots, featuring a humanoid design.
While Digit’s introduction may heighten fears of job replacement, Amazon emphasizes that the robot is intended to “work collaboratively” with employees rather than entirely replacing them. According to Agility Robotics CEO Damion Shelton, Digit currently costs $10 to $12 per hour to operate, with the company anticipating a decrease to $2 to $3 per hour plus overhead software costs as production scales up.
In an announcement on its website, Amazon highlighted Digit’s ability to move, grasp, and handle items in warehouse spaces, particularly in corners and novel ways. The initial use of this technology is focused on assisting employees with tote recycling, specifically, the repetitive process of picking up and moving empty totes after inventory has been depleted. Amazon envisions a future where 750,000 robots collaborate with human employees in various tasks.
