Amazon unveils prototype AI sensible glasses for its supply drivers

Amazon has unveiled a prototype of synthetic intelligence-powered sensible glasses designed for use by its supply drivers.

The “Amelia” glasses embrace a digital camera and built-in show, and pairs with a waistcoat with a button drivers can press to take images of deliveries.

“We’re testing it at a number of locations with over a dozen delivery service partners and hundreds of drivers across the country,” mentioned Beryl Tomay, Amazon’s vice chairman of Transportation, at a launch occasion in Silicon Valley.

Amazon is the most recent US tech large to enter an more and more crowded area of companies experimenting with wearables, however for now it’s a product meant for drivers, not clients.

Although Amazon continues to be experimenting with the product, it plans to finally make the sensible glasses accessible to drivers first in North America, then globally.

Ms Tomay mentioned that drivers “have been doing real deliveries with these” to clients.

“We custom designed it for that use case,” she added. “There’s a very specific application here.”

When requested by the BBC if the Amelia sensible glasses could be marketed to customers sooner or later sooner or later, Ms Tomay didn’t rule out the likelihood.

Instagram and Facebook-owner Meta has additionally experimented with sensible glasses in recent times.

At its Meta Connect convention final month, the corporate unveiled a spread of sensible glasses powered by its Meta AI expertise, together with a pair of Ray-Bans with a built-in show.

Unlike Amazon, Meta’s sensible glasses goal the mainstream shopper merchandise market.

Meta offered the {hardware} as a expertise that enables customers to stay extra engaged in the actual world in comparison with smartphones.

For Amazon, the Amelia sensible glasses might increase effectivity within the “last mile” of its supply community.

Ms Tomay mentioned the sensible glasses can detect when they’re in a shifting car, which prompts them to mechanically shut off.

“From a safety perspective, we thought that was important. No distractions,” Ms Tomay advised a gaggle of reporters at an occasion in California.

Ms Tomay estimated that the glasses might create as much as half-hour in efficiencies per 8- to 10-hour shift by minimising repetitive duties and serving to drivers to rapidly find packages of their automobiles.

The sensible glasses additionally embrace a {hardware} swap on the controller that lets the driving force flip off the glasses and all of its sensors, together with the digital camera and microphone.

Drivers “can choose to keep it off,” she mentioned.