Amazon’ New Warehouses Will Deploy Tenfold Robot Workforce
Amazon’s Robot‑Riff on a New Delivery Flagship
At its “Delivering the Future” event this past Wednesday, Amazon dropped a bombshell that’s set the logistics world on its toes: a brand‑new, robot‑powered fulfilment centre in Shreveport, Louisiana. Picture this – a 3‑million‑square‑foot beast, spread over five floors, equivalent to about 55 football fields. If you’re still trying to wrap your head around that size, just imagine a stadium, then multiply it by 55. Fun fact: it’s a splashy showcase of Amazon’s decade‑long obsession with robotics, starting with that Kiva acquisition a decade ago.
From Humming “Kiva” to Ground‑Up Robot Heaven
For years, Amazon kept robots in the background, nudging them into everyday workflows so they didn’t clash with the rest of the operation. Now, they’re taking a fresh, “greenfield” approach – building science from scratch. Think of it as moving from tweaking a coffee machine to designing a whole new espresso bar from the ground up.
Robotics Roster – Meet the Crew
- Kiva‑style Autonomous Mobile Robots (AMRs) – the nimble little tigers that keep tasks moving.
- Inventory arms: Robin, Cardinal, and Sparrow – the lift‑celebrated trio that fetches and drops off items.
- Sequoia – the big daddy of containerised inventory. AMAZON calls it a state‑of‑the‑art, multi‑level system that’s faster and safer for humans. The Shreveport model can carry over 30 million items.
That’s a five‑fold jump from the first Sequoia that opened in Houston last year.
Tech Meets Talent – Covariant Movers
Amazon’s August hiring of Pieter Abbeel, Peter Chen, and Rocky Duan from Covariant is expected to oil those robotic gears. Their knack for AI should help these machines talk to each other in real‑time – a dream that was once as far out as shooting a moonbeam.
Human‑in‑the‑Loop – Jobs, Security, & More
“Don’t worry,” Amazon insists, “we still have folks on the ground.” The Shreveport centre, once fully ramped up, will employ 2,500 people – a cue that tech and human effort go hand in hand.
All this giggle‑worthy information came straight from the TechCrunch event, sparking excitement across the tech community. As the robots hum & move like a well‑tuned orchestra, Amazon’s next‑gen fulfilment centre stands ready to rewrite the rules of online delivery – and maybe even our definition of a sports arena.
Tech and VC heavyweights join the Disrupt 2025 agenda
Netflix, ElevenLabs, Wayve, Sequoia Capital, Elad Gil — just a few of the heavy hitters joining the Disrupt 2025 agenda. They’re here to deliver the insights that fuel startup growth and sharpen your edge. Don’t miss the 20th anniversary of TechCrunch Disrupt, and a chance to learn from the top voices in tech — grab your ticket now and save up to $600+ before prices rise.
Tech and VC heavyweights join the Disrupt 2025 agenda
Netflix, ElevenLabs, Wayve, Sequoia Capital — just a few of the heavy hitters joining the Disrupt 2025 agenda. They’re here to deliver the insights that fuel startup growth and sharpen your edge. Don’t miss the 20th anniversary of TechCrunch Disrupt, and a chance to learn from the top voices in tech — grab your ticket now and save up to $675 before prices rise.
San Francisco
October 27‑29, 2025
- Friday: Kick off the weekend with a pulse‑pounding night of music and street art.
- Saturday: Explore downtown’s foodie frenzy—tasty bites, bold flavors, and a bit of spontaneous salsa.
- Sunday: Wind down under the sunset sky while live bands strum the last strings of the weekend.
REGISTER NOW! Grab your spot, snag the exclusive perks, and join the fun before the doors close.
