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\r\n“The navigation system does what we call semantically aware planning and navigation,” said Siddhartha Srinivasa, director of Amazon Robotics AI. “The intuition is very simple: The way a robot moves around a trash can is probably going to be different from the way it navigates around a person or a precious asset. The only way the robot can know that is if it’s able to identify, ‘Oh that’s the trash can or that’s the person.’ And that’s what our AI is able to do.”
For now, Amazon has rolled out these newer robots in select FCs and assigned them a limited number of tasks. The goal is to integrate the robots safely and seamlessly into the everyday operations of Amazon fulfillment center associates, the company said.
\r\n\r\nChange is often afoot at Amazon, but seems to be ramping up in anticipation of peak holiday spending. In recent news, the company just added another way to pay: Venmo. Starting from Black Friday, Amazon customers in the U.S. will be able to use the digital payment service at checkout. Users can choose this option through Amazon’s website or mobile app.
\r\n\r\n“We want to offer customers payment options that are convenient, easy to use, and secure—and there’s no better time for that than the busy holiday season. Whether it’s paying with cash, buying now and paying later, or now paying via Venmo, our goal is to meet the needs and preferences of every Amazon customer,” said Max Bardon, vice president of Amazon Worldwide Payments.
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\r\nIn mid-October, the e-retailer also hosted a second members-only “Prime Day” sales event designed to kick-off the season. This was the first time the company added an additional Prime Day to the calendar. However, early data revealed more budget-conscious consumer behavior overall, with shoppers prioritizing essentials and smaller ticket items.
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\r\nThis was followed by news of Amazon Access, a new hub where customers can find programs, discounts, and additional Amazon shopping features. The new resource center also provides information on Prime’s discounted membership program for qualifying government assistance recipients, including paying with SNAP EBT on Amazon.