The news: Amazon is testing humanoid delivery robots, per The Information.

• The robots are operating at a closed course the size of a coffee shop in the Big Tech giant’s San Francisco offices.
• The humanoid robotics team is working on incorporating large language models (LLMs) from Chinese companies DeepSeek and Alibaba so the bots can contextualize real-world surroundings.

The robots could work in tandem with human drivers or as part of an autonomous fleet of delivery vehicles. Amazon already operates driverless Zoox robotaxis.

The bigger picture: Amazon already uses around 750,000 bots—including Agility’s Digit humanoids—in its fulfillment centers. Its focus on AI robotic automation is part of a trend among tech firms.

• Meta, Google, Tesla, and Apple are all working on humanoid robots for various use cases, and Figure AI is already testing humanoids in homes.
• AI bots were prevalent at this year’s Consumer Electronics Show (CES), though few were humanoid. The majority resembled stuffed animals and toys designed for companionship.

Future of work, minus people: As more companies opt for AI over employees, it makes sense that robots would be the next evolution.

• Much like cars, robots are a one-time purchase, and future expenses are limited to maintenance and energy. Human wages, however, are an ongoing cost.
• Robots are also not limited to working daylight hours or weekdays, giving them a 24/7 advantage over a human workforce.

Depending on initial robotic investments versus salaries, robots could pay for themselves in a short period of time, especially if one robot can do the work of multiple people.

Our take: Delivery bots could help with heavy loads and ease the burden on human drivers, but Amazon might be better served with a less human form factor, such as a platform with walking legs to carry packages. The focus on humanoids could limit functionality, and bringing the uncanny valley to consumers’ front door could be off-putting.

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