Amazon (AMZN) has officially crossed a staggering milestone. The company now operates more than one million robots across its warehouses, according to a report by The Wall Street Journal. That number is climbing so quickly that machines may soon outnumber human workers. It’s no longer just a tech experiment — it’s a full-blown operational shift.
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CEO Andy Jassy has been candid about what this means. While automation can relieve humans from physically demanding and repetitive tasks, it also inevitably reduces the number of workers needed. “There will be fewer people doing some of the jobs,” he told The Journal. And the numbers back him up: Amazon averaged just 670 employees per warehouse in 2023, the lowest headcount in over 16 years.
The Upside for Those Willing to Adapt
For workers willing to adapt, the automation boom is not all doom and gloom. Employees trained to manage and maintain robotic systems are reportedly earning significantly more. These machine managers represent a new wave of hybrid talent: part technician, part operator, and increasingly essential.
Amazon has been rolling out systems like Sparrow, Cardinal, and Proteus — advanced bots that sort, move, and even pick items off shelves with precision. The goal, according to the company, is not just efficiency but also reducing injuries and physical strain.
Warehouses Are Changing Fast
The company is now designing fulfillment centers from the ground up with robots in mind. That means narrower aisles, new workflows, and fewer positions for traditional roles like stowers and pickers. At this rate, the warehouse of the future may look more like a robotics lab than a factory floor.
Still, the focus on robotics raises some interesting questions. Will reskilling keep pace with automation? Can displaced workers find new roles fast enough? And how far can this go before the balance between humans and machines tips too far?
Is Amazon a Good Stock to Buy?
From a financial perspective, investors see Amazon’s automation play as a long-term cost saver. Fewer workers per facility means lower overhead and higher margins, especially as AI and robotics get more efficient. The market is already rewarding these shifts with confidence in Amazon’s logistics moat.
According to TipRanks data, Amazon currently holds a “Strong Buy” rating based on 48 Wall Street analyst reviews over the past three months. Of those, 47 analysts recommend a Buy, while just one suggests a Hold and none advise a Sell. The average 12-month AMZN price target is $243.32, implying a 10.4% upside from the current price of $220.46.
