Amazon purchases the Sprout humanoid robot manufacturer, Fauna Robotics.

E-commerce giant Amazon has acquired Fauna Robotics, less than two months after the startup unveiled its humanoid robot “Sprout,” marking a fresh push into consumer-facing robotics.

The deal value was not disclosed, but Fauna’s team will now operate as part of Amazon in New York. CEO Rob Cochran confirmed the development, stating that the company will continue its work under the Amazon umbrella while exploring new ways to enhance everyday user experiences.

Unlike Amazon’s existing fleet of over one million warehouse robots focused on logistics and automation, Sprout represents a different direction—designed for social interaction rather than industrial use. The 1.5-foot-tall robot, featuring a compact, friendly design, is built to engage with users in environments such as homes and schools.

Launched earlier this year, Sprout functions as both a robot and a development platform, primarily targeting academic institutions and corporate research labs working on home robotics. Early adopters include Disney.

Priced at around $50,000, the robot is not intended for heavy-duty tasks. Instead, it focuses on interactive capabilities—such as dancing, picking up small objects like toys, and moving around independently—making it suitable for research and social applications.

The acquisition comes as Amazon continues to expand its presence in artificial intelligence and robotics. The company already offers the voice assistant Alexa, widely used in smart homes, but has faced challenges in scaling consumer robotics initiatives.

In 2024, Amazon abandoned its planned acquisition of iRobot due to regulatory hurdles in the US and Europe, highlighting the complexities in this segment.

With the addition of Fauna Robotics, Amazon appears to be taking a renewed approach—focusing on interactive, AI-driven robots that could play a role in everyday human environments rather than just warehouses.