Amazon has begun deploying humanoid robots from Figure AI and Tesla in its fulfillment centers, marking the first large-scale commercial use of general-purpose humanoid robots. The pilot program involves 100 robots across five warehouses in the United States.
Figure's 02 robot and Tesla's Optimus Gen 2 are performing tasks including item picking, packing, and inventory management. The robots work alongside human employees and are designed to operate in spaces built for humans, requiring no warehouse modifications.
Initial performance data shows the robots operating at approximately 60% of human speed but with higher accuracy rates and the ability to work continuously across multiple shifts. Amazon expects productivity to approach human levels within 12 months as the AI systems learn from experience.
The deployment has sparked labor concerns. Amazon's workforce of 1.5 million employees is watching closely, though the company maintains that robots will handle the most physically demanding and repetitive tasks while humans focus on more complex and creative work.
The cost economics are approaching viability. Figure's robot is priced at approximately $50,000, meaning it pays for itself within 18 months at current warehouse labor costs. As production scales, prices are expected to drop significantly.
