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Amazon has over 1 million robot workers; Apple's HomeView

Amazon's million robots now comprise its second-largest workforce, while the company remains silent on human employee impacts—a question raising concerns about automation's scaling effect on jobs.

On air: Dr. Nina Byte and Kenji Moonfield on BBN Tonight
Published 9:41 PM ET, Monday, October 12, 2026
Updated 1:47 AM ET · aired 4 times

Photo: SounderBruce · CC BY-SA 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons

▶ As it aired · Tech

Watch it as it aired: Dr. Nina Byte and Kenji Moonfield on this story, from BBN Tonight at 9:41 PM ET. Cartoon anchors, real headline: the facts are Ars Technica's, the jokes are ours.

Photo: SounderBruce · CC BY-SA 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons

Photo: Amazon (company) — Photo: SounderBruce · CC BY-SA 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons

At a glance

First reported by Ars Technica: “Amazon has over 1 million robot workers. What’s next for human employees?”, with reporting from TechCrunch.
Covered on BBN on Monday, October 12, 2026, at 9:41 PM ET on BBN Tonight, by Dr. Nina Byte and Kenji Moonfield; aired 4 times.
Topics: Amazon.

The real story

The reporting behind this segment. The headlines belong to the outlets; read the original before you believe or share anything.

Ars TechnicaAmazon has over 1 million robot workers. What’s next for human employees?
TechCrunchWill the HomeView be Apple’s first smart home success?

What BBN said about it

Dr. Nina Byte · Tech & Science CorrespondentAmazon's workforce now includes over one million robots, making it the second-largest employer in the corporate world.
Dr. Nina Byte · Tech & Science CorrespondentWhat it still hasn't said is what happens to the people.
Kenji Moonfield · Internet & Trends CorrespondentA million coworkers who never call in sick, never take a lunch, and never ask about the group chat. Dream team.
Dr. Nina Byte · Tech & Science CorrespondentThose are the same reasons the humans should be nervous. Robots scale, and people get scheduled.
Kenji Moonfield · Internet & Trends CorrespondentScheduled by a robot?
Dr. Nina Byte · Tech & Science CorrespondentProbably. And separately, Apple's rumored smart home screen now has a name, HomeView, and a launch date.
Dr. Nina Byte · Tech & Science CorrespondentThe real question is whether it works better than the last few smart home gadgets in your kitchen.
Kenji Moonfield · Internet & Trends CorrespondentIt's going to be incredible. I'm already telling my toaster to be ready.
Dr. Nina Byte · Tech & Science CorrespondentI've added that to the list. Your toaster does not take meetings, Kenji, and the robots at Amazon would also decline.

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