Amazon unveils AI warehouse robot that understands human speech in €10 billion Europe push

Amazon Commits €10 Billion to Transform European Operations

Amazon unveiled an upgraded AI-powered mobile robot at its "Delivering the Future" event in Dartford, England, marking a significant expansion of its European presence with over €10 billion earmarked for warehouse and delivery network modernization1

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. The announcement comes after the company invested more than €60 billion across Europe in 2025, its largest annual investment on the continent. This Europe investment signals Amazon's determination to strengthen its foothold in a region grappling with tech talent migration to the United States.

Next-Generation Proteus Robot Responds to Conversational Prompts

The centerpiece of Amazon's robotics push is the next-generation Proteus robot, which represents a fundamental shift in human-robot interaction within warehouse environments. Unlike the current Proteus deployed at 25 U.S. sites that operates only in dock areas moving carts weighing up to nearly 400 kg, the new version can operate across entire warehouse floors and understand conversational prompts1

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. "You tell it what needs to be done. It figures out the priority, the route, the timing," explained Scott Dresser, vice president of Amazon Robotics3

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. The upgraded AI warehouse robot is scheduled to arrive in Europe during the first half of 2027, enabling warehouse employees to communicate naturally with autonomous systems rather than relying on complex programming interfaces.

Robotics and Automation Expand Across Fulfilment Centers

Amazon's European fulfilment network will see significant technological upgrades beyond the Proteus robot. The company showcased STARK, a robotic tote-handling system first piloted in Barcelona that will roll out to 15 European sites by 20271

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. Additionally, Amazon introduced Vulcan, its first robot equipped with a sense of touch, expanding the capabilities of robotics and automation in handling delicate items3

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. These systems are designed to handle physically demanding tasks such as moving heavy loads or repetitive lifting, allowing employees to focus on other work inside fulfilment centers. The investment will support expanding and upgrading fulfilment centres across the UK, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Poland, the Czech Republic and Slovakia.

25,000 New Jobs and Worker Training Initiative

Despite the automation push, Amazon announced the investments will support the creation of 25,000 additional fulfilment jobs across Europe in the coming years. The company also unveiled a $1 billion fund for targeted worker training by 2030, part of a wider $2.5 billion global skills expansion programme. The funding will help employees train for roles in cybersecurity, software development, logistics, renewable energy and mechatronics, with programmes available in several European countries including the UK. Amazon currently supports more than 1.5 million jobs across Europe, including 230,000 direct employees and more than 400,000 people in its extended workforce.

Accelerated Delivery Network and AI Infrastructure Expansion

Amazon plans to launch more than 25 sub-same-day delivery sites across Europe this year, including in Britain and Germany1

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. Amazon Now, its ultra-fast essentials delivery service, will expand to Manchester and Birmingham in Britain. Same-day delivery for fresh groceries is now available in more than 2,300 U.S. cities and parts of Tokyo, with further expansion planned in Japan, Britain and other countries in the coming months3

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. The company also announced that Alexa+, its next-generation AI assistant, will launch in 10 additional countries in 20271

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. This delivery network expansion aligns with Amazon's broader AI infrastructure spending, as the company forecast a more than 50% jump in capital expenditure to $200 billion this year in February, joining peers in ramping up AI capabilities3

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