Amazon has acquired the Swiss robotics company Rivr, which develops four-legged machines for 'doorstep delivery,' as the tech giant invests in automating warehouse operations.
Amazon laid off 16,000 white-collar workers in January and 100 jobs in its robotics division, as CEO Andy Jassy emphasized artificial intelligence integration across the company.
The Rivr acquisition was not publicly announced but shared with third-party delivery contractors. Amazon stated the technology could improve safety and customer experience during the final delivery step.
An Amazon spokesperson called the deal a commitment to research and improving delivery worker safety.
Rivr’s tech aims to assist delivery associates in carrying packages from vehicles to customer doorsteps.