Amazon deploying AI to detect damaged goods before they ship

Amazon.com is rolling out artificial intelligence technology designed to detect damaged goods in warehouses so they never get shipped to customers. The retailer estimates that fewer than one in 1,000 items it handles in warehouses is damaged. The company handles about eight billion packages a year.

The implementation of AI technology reflects a broader trend in the logistics industry, where companies are incorporating AI to streamline workflows and decision-making. Amazon has already deployed AI in two fulfillment centers and intends to expand it to 10 more sites in North America and Europe.

The AI system checks items during the picking and packing process, using an imaging station to identify damage. If an item is flagged as damaged, it undergoes further inspection, while undamaged items proceed to be packed and shipped to customers.

Amazon’s adoption of AI technology aims to improve customer satisfaction, optimize warehouse operations, and enhance logistics processes. By leveraging AI to identify damaged items, Amazon aims to minimize the number of defective products shipped.

This initiative comes as companies seek ways to automate tasks traditionally performed by humans and improve overall efficiency in supply chain management.