Amazon announced it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Boston Dynamics, the robotics company best known for its humanoid and quadrupedal robots, in an all-cash transaction valued at $8 billion — the largest acquisition in Amazon's history outside of Whole Foods and MGM.
Strategic Rationale
Amazon already operates over 750,000 robots in its global fulfilment centres, but these are largely fixed-function machines. Boston Dynamics' general-purpose robots could allow Amazon to automate the "last 20%" of warehouse operations that still require human workers. Analysts estimate full automation could reduce annual labour costs by $15-20 billion.
Labour Concerns
The Teamsters Union called the acquisition "a declaration of war on working people" and announced plans to lobby Congress for minimum staffing ratio legislation.
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I've been following this story across multiple outlets and this is by far the most balanced and thoroughly sourced account. Well done to the editorial team.
This changes everything. Or at least it should.
This deserves a much wider audience than it'll probably get. Mainstream media ignores stories like this.