Amazon's bet on physical AI just got more concrete - literally on four legs.
The company has acquired Zurich-based RIVR Technologies, a developer of legged delivery robots spun out of ETH Zurich in 2023. The deal was confirmed by Swiss Global Enterprise, with Marko Bjelonic - now CEO of Amazon RIVR - announcing that the acquisition will accelerate the company's vision of building General Physical AI through doorstep delivery.
What RIVR Actually Built
RIVR's robots are four-legged, wheeled systems designed specifically for last-mile delivery. They navigate autonomously, climb stairs, and carry payloads of up to 60 kilograms - combining cameras, sensors, and AI-driven control systems to operate in real-world urban environments without human guidance.
The company rebranded from Swiss-Mile to RIVR Technologies in January 2025 and moved quickly from lab to street. It conducted pilot food deliveries in Zurich in partnership with Just Eat Takeaway.com, followed by field testing with Swiss Post and Migros Online in Regensdorf. For a three-year-old spinout, the operational track record is meaningful - these are not controlled demonstrations but actual deployments in live environments with real delivery payloads.
Amazon's Prior Relationship
This is not a cold acquisition. Amazon had already invested in RIVR through its Industrial Innovation Fund, alongside Jeff Bezos personally, as part of a 2024 funding round. The acquisition converts that investment into full ownership and brings the RIVR team and technology inside Amazon's robotics organization.
Amazon has been building a broader Swiss robotics portfolio. The company has also backed Algorized, a local startup developing perception systems that allow robots to operate in low-visibility conditions - the kind of technology that complements a legged delivery robot navigating real-world environments in poor weather or challenging lighting.
Why Last-Mile Robotics Matters for Amazon
Last-mile delivery remains one of the most expensive and operationally complex elements of Amazon's logistics network. Human delivery staff, van fleets, and the coordination required to handle individual doorstep drops at scale create cost structures that do not compress easily. Robots that can autonomously navigate building entrances, climb stairs, and complete final-step delivery without human involvement represent a structural cost reduction - if the technology can operate reliably at scale.
RIVR's legged approach addresses a gap that wheeled robots and drones have struggled with: the built environment. Stairs, uneven surfaces, narrow corridors, and the physical diversity of urban delivery environments require a robot that can adapt its movement dynamically. Legged systems with AI navigation are designed for exactly that challenge.
For Switzerland, the acquisition signals that its robotics ecosystem - anchored by ETH Zurich's research output and now validated by Amazon's acquisition interest - is producing companies worth buying, not just funding.
