'Super humanoid' | FedEx CEO confirms plans to augment warehouse workforce with AI & robotics

FedEx is stepping up the usage of robotics and artificial intelligence to streamline parcel handling, but its chief executive has indicated that warehouse environments demand capabilities beyond what current humanoid designs can offer.

Raj Subramaniam told The New York Times that unloading and loading vehicles represented a major challenge. He said that part of the supply chain involves variation and unpredictability, which continues to limit how far conventional robotics can go in FedEx facilities.

‘Super humanoid’ designs and difficult tasks

Subramaniam explained that manual tasks within the company’s distribution network remain difficult to automate because “packages come in every size, shape, and weight.” He explained that FedEx is not seeking human-like machines so much as systems designed for complex movement.

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He said, “We’re not looking for humanoid robots - we’re looking for super humanoid robots, because maybe they need to have a couple of elbows. More degrees of freedom.”