In a strategic move to drive innovation in the field of robotics and artificial intelligence (AI), Amazon has announced the hiring of prominent experts and the acquisition of licenses for advanced AI models. This initiative aims to accelerate the development and implementation of intelligent and secure robots on a large scale in its logistics operations.
New Additions to the Amazon Team
Amazon has hired three prominent figures in the field of AI and robotics:
Pieter Abbeel
Peter Chen
Rocky Duan
These experts, along with a group of research scientists and engineers, will join Amazon’s Compliance Technologies and Robotics Team. Their addition represents approximately a quarter of Covariant’s current employees, a company specializing in AI for robotics.
Commercial Agreement with Covariant
As part of this strategy, Amazon has signed a commercial agreement with Covariant, a company based in the San Francisco Bay Area. This agreement grants Amazon a non-exclusive license to use the foundational robotic models developed by Covariant.
Benefits of the Agreement
Covariant’s technology will allow Amazon to:
Improve the learning capability of its robotic systems.
Create new opportunities for automation in its operations.
Increase safety and efficiency in its distribution centers.
Expansion in the Bay Area
Amazon plans to expand its AI and robotics team in the San Francisco Bay Area. This decision aims to leverage the world-class talent available in the region and advance the latest automation technologies.
Impact on Amazon Operations
Currently, Amazon operates a fleet of 750,000 robots in its facilities. These robots perform tasks such as:
Inventory movement
Goods sorting
Customer order identification
Integrating Covariant’s AI technology into Amazon’s existing robot fleet promises to improve performance and create real value for customers.
Official Statements
Joseph Quinlivan, Vice President of Compliance Technologies and Robotics at Amazon, stated: “We are excited to welcome some of the talented members of the Covariant team to Amazon and look forward to developing this technology with them to deliver the next generation of robotics that will drive the state of the art in automation.”
This strategic move by Amazon underscores its ongoing commitment to innovation in supply chain, logistics, and warehouse automation, strengthening its position as a leader in the use of AI and robotics in e-commerce and distribution.
Source: Amazon News[https://www.aboutamazon.com/news/company-news/amazon-covariant-ai-robots]
Amazon expands AI and robotics team with new hirings and technology
