Amazon Unveils Revolutionary Robot 'Vulcan' With Sense Of Touch To Handle 75% Of The Warehouse Items: 'People Will Always Be Part Of The Equation'

Amazon AMZN has revealed a revolutionary robot, Vulcan, which boasts a sense of touch, enabling it to manage approximately 75% of items in Amazon’s warehouses.

What Happened: As per Amazon’s announcement on Wednesday, Vulcan is set to be introduced at the company’s “Delivering the Future” event in Dortmund, Germany. The groundbreaking robot is set to be globally deployed in the coming years, playing a pivotal role in the online retail behemoth’s operations.

According to Aaron Parness, Amazon’s director of robotics, Vulcan represents a “fundamental leap forward in robotics.” The robot will use AI to recognize objects through touch, assessing which ones it can handle and determining the most effective way to pick them up.

Vulcan will work in conjunction with human employees, stowing items on the upper and lower levels of shelving units. This will reduce the need for human workers to frequently use ladders or bend during their work.

Jeff Bezos‘s Amazon also plans to implement technology that uses machine learning and automation to create custom packaging, reducing waste. This technology will be installed in several European countries by the end of this year, with more installations planned by 2027.

Why It Matters: The unveiling of Vulcan comes amidst a growing trend of AI and robotics integration in various industries. Earlier this year, tech giants Apple Inc. AAPL and Meta Platforms Inc. META were reported to be in a race to develop AI-powered humanoid robots. Similarly, NVIDIA Corporation NVDA introduced new AI and robotics tools at the GTC event, indicating a future powered by advanced technology.

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However, the rise of AI and robotics has also raised concerns about job security. in 2023, economists at Goldman Sachs projected that by 2030, generative AI could automate up to 300 million jobs globally, with many additional roles undergoing significant transformation, reported The Guardian. Meanwhile, Sen. Bernie Sanders has warned American workers about significant changes in the job market due to AI and robotics.

Despite concerns about job losses due to increased automation, Tye Brady, the chief technologist of robotics at Amazon, told The Guardian that robots are there to “amplify the human potential” and enhance safety, not to entirely replace human workers. "People will always be part of the equation," asserted Brady.

Amazon holds a Growth rating of 94.95% and a quality rating of 74.33%, according to Benzinga’s Proprietary Edge Rankings. For an in-depth report on more stocks and insights into growth opportunities, sign up for Benzinga Edge.

Shares of Amazon declined nearly 16% on a year-to-date basis.