By Blair Jackson
Speaking to NewsWire in Japan this week, Amazon鈥檚 global head of PR for robotics and AI, Xavier Chao, compared AI robots and sorting machines to offices having a coffee machine and snacks close to the desks.
鈥淩etention is very, vitally important for us if we want to continue to manage and sustain our business and grow; we have to retain our workforce,鈥 Mr Chao said.
鈥淎nd so we think that innovation is part of the solution of creating a nice workplace that attracts people, and retains staff.鈥
Australia has eight Amazon 鈥渇ulfilment centre鈥 warehouses; seven of these do not have Amazon鈥檚 robots. The custom designed and built robots operate using AI, moving stacks of products for humans to pick and put into boxes.
Australia鈥檚 robotised Amazon warehouse is at Kemps Creek in Sydney, and employs about 2500 workers.
With Australia鈥檚 comparatively low-tech Amazon facilities – compared to warehouses in comparable countries – retraining Australian workers to fix and maintain Amazon鈥檚 robots has stalled.
In June, Amazon announced it would be investing $20bn in data centres in Australia, reiterating concerns about the e-commerce company鈥檚 entrenchment in the Australian economy.
Anthony Albanese faces internal pressure from high-ranking Labor MPs, The Australian reports, over accusations Amazon undermines labour laws and employs tax avoidance tactics.
These criticisms are echoed by unions – the ACTU, TWU and the SDA – who claim Amazon Australia鈥檚 workplace practices are unethical.
Asked if operating in countries with relatively strong workplace protections was tough for Amazon, Mr Chao said 鈥淩ight now, what we鈥檙e really hyper-focused on is can these systems actually benefit our frontline workers, and getting feedback from them鈥.
He argues wide-scale automation is good for workers.
鈥淚f we can create the most innovative workplace that we possibly can, we want to try to do three things.
鈥淪afety 鈥 Ease – all of us want to have an easier job.
鈥淎nd then three, it鈥檚 exposure. So a lot of people who come and work at an Amazon facility, you know, there are people from all walks of life.鈥
*Amazon paid for NewsWire鈥檚 travel and accommodation in Japan