Amazon has unveiled prototype smart glasses designed to guide delivery drivers through the final stages of package delivery, as the e-commerce giant intensifies efforts to cut costs and accelerate shipping times in its logistics network.
The artificial intelligence-powered eyewear, internally codenamed “Amelia,” features an embedded display and camera system that provides turn-by-turn navigation, package scanning capabilities, and hands-free delivery confirmation directly in drivers’ field of vision. The technology was revealed at Amazon’s “Delivering the Future” event in Silicon Valley on 22 October, following earlier reports about the project’s development.
“We’re testing it at a number of locations with over a dozen delivery service partners and hundreds of drivers across the country,” said Beryl Tomay, Amazon’s vice president of transportation, at the launch event.
The glasses connect to a small controller worn on the delivery vest that houses operational controls, a swappable battery ensuring all-day use, and a dedicated emergency button.
The system automatically activates when drivers park at a delivery location, first helping them locate the correct packages inside their vehicles before providing walking directions to the customer’s doorstep using Amazon’s geospatial technology.
Targeting the Costly “Last 100 Yards”
The initiative represents Amazon’s latest effort to optimise what the industry calls “last mile” delivery—the final and most expensive segment of the shipping process. Industry estimates suggest that last mile delivery can account for more than half of total shipping costs. For Amazon, which reported shipping costs of £23.5 billion (up 8%) in the third quarter alone, even marginal efficiency gains translate into significant savings.
“I felt safer the whole time because the glasses have the info right in my field of view,” explained Kaleb M., a delivery associate working for Maddox Logistics Corporation in Omaha, Nebraska, who tested the technology. “Instead of having to look down at a phone, you can keep your eyes forward and look past the display—you’re always focused on what’s ahead”.
The glasses support prescription lenses and feature transitional lenses that automatically adjust to light conditions. Using computer vision and AI-powered sensing capabilities, the system can detect potential hazards such as pets or uneven walkways, and future iterations are expected to provide real-time alerts if packages are delivered to incorrect addresses.
Beryl Tomay, who has led Amazon’s last mile delivery initiatives for over 17 years, noted that the technology could save approximately 30 minutes per eight-to-ten-hour shift by streamlining repetitive tasks.
Part of Broader Automation Push
The smart glasses announcement forms part of a wider logistics technology showcase that included Blue Jay, a next-generation robotics system currently being tested in South Carolina that coordinates multiple robotic arms to pick, stow, and consolidate items simultaneously. Amazon also unveiled Project Eluna, an agentic AI model designed to help operations managers anticipate bottlenecks and optimise workflow in fulfilment centres.
These investments align with Amazon’s stated goal of delivering at its fastest speeds ever for Prime members globally in 2025, with more items arriving same or next day than previously. The company has already invested over €700 million in delivery station technology across Europe from 2021 through 2025.
Privacy and Surveillance Concerns
The introduction of camera-equipped wearables has raised questions about workplace surveillance and employee privacy. Amazon has faced scrutiny over monitoring practices in the past, including a £28 million fine levied by French regulators in January 2024 for what they deemed “excessively intrusive” warehouse surveillance systems.
Employment law experts have warned that wearable technology collecting granular data about worker movements could create anxiety and impact morale, particularly if the information is used to set performance targets. The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission issued guidance in July 2025 cautioning employers that improper use of data from wearable technologies could violate federal employment discrimination laws.
Research suggests that excessive employee monitoring can backfire, with studies finding that surveilled workers may take more unapproved breaks, work more slowly, or exhibit lower morale than un-monitored peers. Amazon has stated that participation in the glasses programme is currently optional for drivers.
While the initial pilot is focused on North America, the technology has potential implications for Amazon’s UK operations, including its Scottish delivery network. Amazon operates a major fulfilment centre in Dunfermline – the largest in the UK at 93,000 square metres – along with delivery stations in Glasgow and Edinburgh.
Scotland has already been a testing ground for Amazon’s sustainable delivery initiatives, with Glasgow receiving electric cargo bike deliveries from a Baillieston hub as part of the company’s £300 million investment in electrifying its UK transportation network.
Should the smart glasses prove successful in trials, they could eventually be deployed across Amazon’s global delivery network, potentially reaching the thousands of drivers serving Scottish communities.
