Amazon Project PI keeps damaged goods from reaching customers
Have you ever received an online delivery and it turns out the product has cracks or other defects? Amazon Project PI will resolve this issue in North America.
It uses generative AI and computer vision to spot defects before damaged products reach customers. As a result, the eCommerce juggernaut ensures quality with each purchase.
READ: How to cancel Amazon Prime Memberships
Article continues after this advertisementCompanies rapidly adapt to new AI technologies. Consequently, this innovation may encourage other online shopping platforms to use it or create a similar tool, improving eCommerce worldwide.
How does Amazon Project PI work?
We know that sometimes an order can accidentally ship with a defect. While rare, that means one less happy customer. To solve for that, we built an #AI model for our fulfillment centers, codenamed "Project P.I." 🔍
— Amazon (@amazon) June 6, 2024
Project P.I. uses image recognition and machine learning to… pic.twitter.com/49VNB8Bpoj
Amazon says the “PI” in “Project PI” stands for “private investigator” because it uses “detective-like tools to scan items for defects.
The PI’s toolkit is a mix of generative AI and computer vision, letting it identify issues like wrong color or noticeable dents.
Article continues after this advertisementProducts pass through Project PI’s imaging tunnel. Then, it uses computer vision to scan products and evaluate images to spot problems, like a creased book cover.
If it finds an issue, Amazon Project PI isolates the product to prevent it from reaching a customer. True to its namesake, the AI private investigator examines the items further to spot wider issues with similar items.
Amazon associates review isolated products and decide whether to resell these items at discounted prices. Alternatively, staff may donate these damaged goods or find other uses.
The technology’s purpose is “to ensure customers are delighted by every order they receive.” Amazon says it receives millions of products daily, so it needs this advanced automation to maintain quality user experiences.
Kara Hurst, vice president of Worldwide Sustainability, said Amazon Project PI will also promote sustainability.
“Amazon is using AI to reach our sustainability commitments with the urgency that climate change demands,” Hurst said.
This new technology prevents defective goods from leaving Amazon facilities. As a result, it avoids “unnecessary carbon emissions due to transportation, packaging, and other steps in the returns process.”
Amazon Project PI will help North American fulfillment centers, which are warehouses that deliver products ordered online. Later, the eCommerce giant will expand its use to more sites in 2024.
Amazon is available worldwide, so customers outside the US may benefit from this technology soon. Also, other online retailers may develop a similar tool to keep up with this digital trend.
