Amazon unveils conversational robot in €10bn Europe plan

Amazon has unveiled a next-generation warehouse robot that responds to conversational commands, a key part of a major investment to modernize its European logistics network. The upgraded Proteus robot was showcased at the company's "Delivering the Future" event at a fulfillment center in Dartford, east of London, on Thursday.

The new robot represents a significant shift in human-robot interaction within Amazon's operations. Instead of requiring workers to use specialized software or coded commands, employees can now assign tasks using plain language. Scott Dresser, vice president of Amazon Robotics, explained the system by stating, "You tell it what needs to be done. It figures out the priority, the route, the timing." This interface is designed to reduce training time and allow for quicker adjustments as warehouse conditions change.

Unlike the current version of Proteus, which operates only in dock areas at 25 U.S. sites and moves carts weighing up to 400 kilograms, the next-generation model is a fully autonomous, untethered robot. It uses artificial intelligence to navigate entire fulfillment and delivery site floors, transporting containers from arrival points and moving them...