Amazon has acquired Fauna Robotics, a New York-based startup that launched a children-sized humanoid robot named Sprout in January. The company, founded in 2024, specializes in creating “safe and fun robots for everyone,” according to its CEO, Rob Cochran.
Sprout, roughly a metre tall and padded in soft green foam, is designed for interaction rather than heavy lifting. The robot can dance, move its eyebrows in playful gestures, and respond to its surroundings using artificial intelligence models. Fauna promoted Sprout as a platform for research and creative projects, targeting academic institutions, corporate labs, and organizations exploring how robotics can be integrated into social and home spaces. Early adopters included Disney. The robot is priced at $50,000 (around €43,000).
“When we launched in NYC back in February 2024, we set out with a clear mission to build capable, safe, and fun robots for everyone,” Cochran said in a LinkedIn post on Tuesday. He added that joining Amazon opens new opportunities to scale Fauna’s vision and reach more users.
Amazon has been steadily expanding its robotics operations, already deploying over a million robots in its warehouse network to improve logistics and efficiency. The acquisition of Fauna is seen as part of the company’s broader push into consumer-facing robotics, a segment that has proven more challenging than industrial applications.
The startup’s employees and founders will join Amazon in New York, where they will continue to develop products and explore ways to enhance customer experiences through robotics. Financial details of the acquisition were not disclosed.
Amazon has faced hurdles in its push into the consumer robotics market. Its 2024 plan to acquire robot vacuum maker iRobot was cancelled amid regulatory scrutiny in the European Union, highlighting the complexities of scaling robotics for home use.
Industry analysts note that Fauna’s approach, focusing on social and interactive robots, complements Amazon’s existing investments in warehouse automation and AI technologies. Humanoid robots like Sprout allow the company to explore new consumer applications, from education and research to entertainment, while avoiding some of the regulatory and practical challenges of autonomous home devices.
As Amazon continues to expand into robotics, the Fauna acquisition signals a commitment to merging AI, human-like interaction, and accessible design. Sprout’s platform model could serve as a testing ground for new software and AI capabilities that may eventually appear in consumer products, educational tools, and public spaces.
The deal positions Amazon to further experiment with humanoid robotics and social AI, following a series of initiatives to broaden its technological footprint beyond e-commerce and warehouse automation.
