Amazon, the global e-commerce giant valued at $2 trillion, is reportedly developing software to power humanoid robots designed to revolutionize its package delivery system.

According to a report by The Guardian, Amazon is constructing a “humanoid park” in a San Francisco office to test these robots in a controlled environment mimicking real-world delivery scenarios.

This ambitious project aims to have robots “spring out” of Amazon’s Rivian electric vans to deliver packages directly to customers’ doorsteps, potentially transforming the logistics industry.

The testing facility, described as roughly the size of a coffee shop, is an indoor obstacle course designed to simulate the challenges of last-mile delivery.

Amazon has integrated one of its 20,000 Rivian electric vans into this “humanoid park” to evaluate how robots can navigate in and out of the vehicles and handle package deliveries.

The company plans to use hardware from third-party firms, such as China-based Unitree and US-based Agility Robotics, while focusing its efforts on developing the artificial intelligence (AI) software to control the robots’ movements and decision-making processes.

Once testing in the controlled environment is complete, Amazon intends to take these robots on “field trips” to real-world settings, where they will attempt to deliver packages to homes.

This move builds on Amazon’s existing automation efforts, including trials with Agility Robotics’ Digit robot in its warehouses, which can perform tasks like moving empty tote boxes.

The company’s vision is for humanoid robots to work alongside human drivers, potentially speeding up deliveries by handling drop-offs at one address while a human driver covers another.

Amazon’s exploration of humanoid robots is part of a broader push to integrate AI and robotics across its operations.

The company has already implemented transformer-based AI models since 2020 to enhance supply chain management and warehouse robot efficiency.

Recent announcements also highlight Amazon’s development of agentic AI for multi-purpose warehouse robots and AI-powered maps for delivery drivers to navigate complex environments like apartment complexes.

These advancements aim to streamline operations and reduce delivery times, particularly during high-demand periods like the holidays.

However, this shift toward automation raises concerns about its impact on human workers.

With Amazon employing nearly 1.5 million people globally, the increasing use of robots—evidenced by a doubling of warehouse robots from 2021 to 2023—has sparked fears of job displacement.

Critics argue that while automation may improve efficiency and worker safety, it could threaten long-term job stability for delivery workers and other roles.

Additionally, the energy demands of generative AI systems pose environmental concerns, potentially increasing Amazon’s carbon footprint.

Experts, such as Professor Subramanian Ramamoorthy from the University of Edinburgh, acknowledge Amazon’s respected robotics team but highlight the challenges of deploying humanoid robots in unpredictable real-world environments.

Simple settings with clear driveways and standard door layouts may be manageable, but complex scenarios involving pets, children, or irregular surroundings could complicate reliable performance.

Amazon’s focus on “last-mile” delivery aligns with its history of innovation, including drone delivery trials in the UK and the acquisition of self-driving vehicle company Zoox in 2020, signaling a long-term vision for fully automated logistics.