Amazon’s (NASDAQ: AMZN) latest robot, Vulcan, isn’t just another piece of warehouse automation; it signals a shift in how workers might engage with technology on the job. The robot, which can “feel” objects and retrieve them from hard-to-reach spots, is designed to take over physically taxing and injury-prone tasks.

Amazon describes Vulcan as part of its move toward safer warehouses as an opportunity for workers to transition into new roles that support and manage the machines.

But this vision leaves some key realities unspoken.

Amazon’s own retraining programs focus on preparing a small segment of workers for roles like robotics maintenance and floor supervision, but these positions are few compared to the number of warehouse roles that automation could reduce or eliminate.

And not every worker will have the interest, or ability, to move into these more technical jobs.

For many warehouse employees, the path from picking items to overseeing complex machines may not be accessible or desirable. This raises deeper concerns about what happens to millions of workers who currently fill the kinds of jobs most vulnerable to automation, yet are least likely to find a clear next step.

Why It Matters: Amazon’s rollout of Vulcan offers a window into what the next phase of work might look like for large segments of the labor force. Rather than replacing all human workers, companies may instead shift them into roles managing, monitoring, and maintaining fleets of robots. The challenge, however, will be ensuring these new jobs are both accessible and sufficient in number to offset the disruption automation creates, not only within Amazon but across the industries it influences.

• Automation Will Create New Jobs, But Not Enough for Everyone: Amazon points to roles like robotics maintenance technicians and automation monitors as examples of new jobs created by the rise of machines. But these positions are limited and often require skills many current warehouse employees don’t yet have. History shows that new jobs created during technology shifts rarely match the volume of the jobs lost, particularly in sectors built around routine or manual labor.

• Human and Robot Collaboration Will Persist: Vulcan can take on some of the hardest picking tasks, but humans still have a place, for now. Workers will continue handling items the robot can’t manage, particularly those requiring care or judgment. In the short term, humans and robots will work side by side, but over time, even these tasks may become targets for automation.

• History Shows Technology Disrupts More Jobs Than It Replaces in the Short Term: While new industries and jobs tend to emerge over time, the immediate impact of automation is often harsh. Workers in the most easily automated roles tend to suffer job losses, wage stagnation, and limited mobility during these transitions. Those most at risk are also often the least prepared to shift into new careers.

• Automation Is Not Always Universal or Immediate: Amazon’s attempt to automate retail with its cashier-less Go stores faced major hurdles and never became the norm outside its own locations. High costs, technical complexity, and customer resistance slowed adoption. That suggests robots like Vulcan may stay inside large companies for now, while smaller businesses and most industries continue relying on human labor for years to come.

• The Psychological and Economic Gap Remains Underestimated: Even when companies offer retraining, many workers may not feel ready—or motivated—to shift from physical labor to overseeing machines. This is more than a skills issue; it’s also a cultural and emotional challenge. Companies and policymakers will need to address these softer barriers if they hope to create real pathways for workers into the emerging world of managing, not just being replaced by, automation.

Go Deeper -> Amazon offers peek at new human jobs in an AI bot world – TechCrunch