Amazon has unveiled a new version of its warehouse robot, Proteus, that can now interact using natural language. The company insists these advancements are designed to support human workers rather than replace them.

The AI-powered upgrade means employees can assign tasks to the robot as they would communicate with colleagues. Previously, workers had to use specialized software to direct the robots, which are known for their heavy lifting and movement of large carts in Amazon’s warehouses.

Scott Dresser, vice president of Amazon Robotics, explains: 'You tell it what needs to be done. It figures out the priority, the route, the timing.'

The next generation Proteus will also work across a much larger area than the current systems, which are limited to dock areas. This includes transporting containers as they arrive on site, moving them between workstations, and assisting employees across fulfillment centers and delivery sites.

Proteus is part of Amazon’s broader robotics roadmap, alongside other touch-sensitive robots like Vulcan and a collaborative tote-handling system being piloted in Barcelona. The company plans to expand these technologies across Europe next year.