Amazon Embraces AI Technology to Identify and Remove Damaged Goods — Retail Bum

Amazon is implementing artificial intelligence (AI) technology across approximately twelve of its largest warehouses, enabling the screening of items for any potential damage before shipping them to customers.

According to the eCommerce giant, the technology will help reduce the occurrence of damaged items being dispatched, accelerate the picking and packing process, and ultimately contribute significantly to the company’s goal of automating a larger portion of its fulfillment operations.

During the process of picking, packing, and storing merchandise, Amazon warehouse workers are tasked with examining goods for any indications of wear and tear, all while striving to meet the hourly order handling targets set by the company. Jeremy Wyatt, the director of applied science at Amazon Robotics, told the WSJ that checking for damage can be time-consuming, especially considering that most items are typically in ideal condition.

“That’s cognitively demanding because obviously, you’re looking for something that’s rare, and it’s not your primary job,” Wyatt said.

While Amazon estimates that less than one in every 1,000 items it handles may suffer damage, the overall quantity remains significant for the company, given its annual handling of…