Amazon Rolls Out Advanced AI Robot in $12B Expansion of European Warehouses

Amazon is ramping up its investment in Europe with the introduction of an enhanced AI-powered warehouse robot known as Proteus. This rollout is a key component of the company's hefty €10 billion (roughly $11.6 billion) infusion into its European logistics system.

The renewed Proteus bot first made its mark in the United States, operating in 25 warehouse locations to haul cartloads up to 400 kilograms within dock areas. Now, the updated model is set to be deployed across Europe starting in early 2027 and will traverse entire warehouse floors, not just docking zones.

This revamp changes the way the bots interact with staff. Users simply inform the robot about the tasks at hand, and Proteus independently prioritizes, routes, and schedules its activities. Scott Dresser, Amazon Robotics' vice president, highlighted this shift toward greater robot autonomy and conversational interaction.

Aside from Proteus, Amazon also presented STARK, a robotic system designed to handle totes which debuted in Barcelona, with plans to extend to 15 European sites by 2027. Another innovation, Vulcan, is Amazon's first robot equipped with tactile sensing, further pushing automation boundaries.

The e-commerce giant isn't stopping at robotics - it's expanding its ultra-fast delivery footprint too. This year, Amazon plans to open over 25 sub-same-day delivery centers across Europe, including major cities in the UK and Germany, supporting its growing grocery and essentials service.

Amazon Now, the company's quick-pick essentials delivery, is gearing up for launches in Manchester and Birmingham. The fresh groceries same-day delivery service already reaches more than 2,300 U.S. cities and parts of Tokyo, with additional expansions slated for Japan, the UK, and elsewhere.

Beyond logistics, Amazon is advancing its AI assistant technology. Its upcoming Alexa+ platform is scheduled for launch in 10 new countries next year, amplifying the company's AI presence even further.

This scaling of automated warehouse tech connects to Amazon's earlier announcement of a capital spending increase exceeding 50% to $200 billion in 2026, reinforcing AI and infrastructure as core growth areas. Whether this technology-driven overhaul will place Amazon ahead in Europe's competitive logistics arena remains to be seen.