Amazon's new Proteus robot lets workers assign tasks via voice command

Amazon has unveiled an AI-powered upgrade to its fully autonomous warehouse robot Proteus, enabling voice-based interaction. Previously, workers had to use specialized software to direct the floor-level, tortoise-like robot, which is designed for heavy lifting and moving large carts. Now, says Scott Dresser, vice president of Amazon Robotics, "You tell it what needs to be done. It figures out the priority, the route, the timing." The new version also works across a much larger area than the current models, which only operate in dock areas. It can transport containers as they arrive, move them between workstations, and assist employees across fulfillment centers and delivery sites. The system is currently being piloted in Amazon's labs, with plans to deploy it in Europe during the first half of 2027.

Proteus is part of Amazon's broader robotics roadmap, which includes expanding its touch-sensitive robot Vulcan and a collaborative tote-handling system first piloted in Barcelona. Amazon emphasizes that its robot investments are designed to support workers and streamline operations, not replace them. The company claims to have created new jobs alongside these technologies, hiring hundreds of thousands of employees globally since introducing robotics. However, the shift toward automation and natural language interfaces raises questions about the future of warehouse work. For now, Amazon frames the development as a tool to enhance human productivity, allowing workers to communicate with machines as intuitively as they do with colleagues.