Will Amazon Replace Human Workers with This Robot?

Amazon has teamed up with Agility Robotics to integrate their bipedal robot, Digit, into its warehouses. Unlike the traditional wheeled robots, Digit can walk, enabling it to navigate uneven terrains, stairs, and tight spaces commonly found in fulfillment centers. This humanoid robot is designed to lift and carry parcels. 

The introduction of Digit addresses challenges faced by Amazon, such as accessing items in tricky spots or navigating uneven pathways, which might be difficult for wheeled robots. Beyond its walking capability, Digit's compact design saves valuable warehouse space, and its agility allows it to operate in congested areas. While there's potential for such robots to reduce the need for human labor, Amazon clarifies that their goal isn't to replace the human workforce. Instead, they aim to alleviate strenuous physical tasks, optimizing human roles to be more efficient. 

This suggests a future where humans and robots collaboratively work together in warehouses. However, as robotic integration grows, concerns about potential job losses arise. Amazon promises training and upskilling for their employees to adapt to this new ecosystem. In essence, Amazon's collaboration with Agility's Digit marks a future where bipedal robots and humans coexist in warehouse operations.

[setildes]

No union to disrupt the business and 24 / 7 workers, no break, no food, no theft, no moaning, no health cover, no toilets to clean, no car parking needed, no windows, probably work in the dark.

[chris-zusf]

With AI leveraging machine learning to reach the average human IQ and beyond, it's possible that androids could replace 80 to 90% of the human workforce.

[jimmyers]

Need a bunch of technicians for repairs and preventive maitenance on these machines.

[crowsiflune]

I wonder how much one of these robots cost because a worker makes about 38-40k a year working at Amazon and that's only 40 hr/week.
A robot can work non-stop if it has continuous power, doing 2 times the amount of work in a day with no breaks. Easily worth 2-3 workers.
They need no holiday, PTO, maternity leave, or sick leave. Only occasional maintenance.

[Skywest]

It’s not about replacing humans but it is about reducing the amount needed. If a center has a thousand jobs today, two years later they might only have 900, then 800. Where do those 200 people go? That’s the problem

[ColossalSwordFormAndTechnique]

With he way amazon treated employees, it was never a job meant for humans ☝️

[gamingnerdgirlz]

the robot can do the heavy lifting would help workers long term health, workers can focus on other tasks.

[WORPIONS]

All this strikes is making this automation go faster

[ourv]

YES, Unless you can work 20 hours straight without taking
any breaks, make NO mistakes then you can keep your job.

!

[JoseTorres-ryqe]

A factory has been established in America this year. 100, 000 units per year.
Humans need not apply.

[ajc]

No toilet breaks required. It seems the blue collar workers will be just as screwed as the white collar ones.

[Kneephry]

I don't care about jobs. I care that people have goods, services and fulfillment. I don't know how we ensure income in the AI and robotics future but the end goal shouldn't be protecting jobs but rather providing income.

[shaileshprasad]

❤❤❤❤😊😊😊 Periodic Tables elements replaces mortals😊😊😊😊😊😊 SpeciesPlastics

[firouzabedi]

Stop buying from Amazon (boycott Amazon)

[staffordmcanuff]

In the amount of time it took for it to turn around and place the bin down and pick up another bin a human would have done that three times

[folkoyt]

Roboter atnein ca.18h/Tag, Arbeiter höchsten 8h/Tag in Deutschland...

[nll]

YES, at least they will try to, for sure, no matter what they say now

[TotalDec]

Strange, when I clicked on this video, my phone glitched the first time in months. The video was only the size of my thumb, yet I have a wide screen. What's the deal?

[skotward]

Ok, so are they going to move faster than this? Because humans can.

[marinbagaric]

This is the beginning of the end of human society.