Amazon has announced it will invest a further $1.9 billion in its Delivery Service Partner (DSP) programme next year, introducing new AI-powered delivery tools and safety technology.

The latest investment brings Amazon's total spending on the programme to $21.7 billion since it launched eight years ago.

The retailer said the additional investment will help DSP operators increase driver pay to a national average of almost $24 per hour in the US.

Amazon also announced a series of technology upgrades designed to improve delivery efficiency and safety.

This includes Wellspring, the company's generative AI mapping platform, which continuously learns from deliveries to create increasingly accurate location data. Since 2024, Amazon said the system has identified more than 202 million parking locations, mapped 2.8 million building entrances and catalogued 85,000 mailrooms and parcel lockers to help delivery drivers locate addresses quicker.

The retailer is also expanding its AI-powered route optimisation technology, which dynamically adjusts routes based on factors such as traffic conditions, poor weather, reduced visibility after dark and parking availability.

Amazon added it will continue to roll out its Smart Delivery Glasses, wearable devices that provide hands-free navigation, address verification and package scanning using computer vision technology. More than 20,000 pairs are expected to be in use by the end of 2027.

The latest version of the glasses includes an integrated LED headlamp, hands-free barcode scanning and proactive address verification, allowing drivers to keep their attention on the road and their surroundings rather than handheld devices.

Safety is another area of investment and Amazon said it has invested over $543 million in safety initiatives since 2022.The company said those investments, alongside initiatives led by delivery partners, contributed to a 23 per cent reduction in serious vehicle crashes across its network last year.

New safety technologies include surround-view cameras capable of detecting vehicles, cyclists and pedestrians around delivery vans. The system will be installed in half of Amazon's Rivian electric delivery vehicles by the end of this year.

Drivers will also receive dynamic hazard alerts through the Amazon Delivery App, providing real-time warnings about road closures, accidents and construction, while navigation will automatically reroute journeys during severe weather or hazardous conditions.

Amazon is also applying AI to data collected from in-vehicle safety cameras to identify driving behaviours that could increase accident risk, enabling DSP operators to provide preventative coaching before incidents occur.

Beyond operational improvements, Amazon said it has earmarked $70 million over the next five years to community initiatives led by delivery partners.

The funding will support programmes including Amazon Local Good, which uses the company's delivery network to transport donated goods to charities free of charge. In 2025, participating delivery partners completed 4,800 charity delivery routes, distributing more than 8 million essential items and 4 million meals. Amazon expects the latest investment to help deliver more than 150 million essential items over the next five years.

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