How many workers will be replaced by robots?

700,000 delivery workers in China, according to Richard Liu's prediction.

Are there pilot programs already running?

Yes, early experimental versions are already operational in China, according to the Financial Times.

What is the impact on Amazon, Walmart, and UPS stocks?

These companies may benefit from automation to lower costs, but they may face regulatory and social challenges.

JD.com Founder: Robots Will Replace 700,000 Delivery Workers

Richard Liu, founder and chairman of JD.com, said robots will replace 700,000 delivery workers in China sooner or later. Early experimental versions of this model are already in place in China, according to the FT.

June 22, 2026

2 min read

Source: 24/7 Wall St.

Key Numbers

workers affected

700,000

Richard Liu, founder and chairman of Chinese e-commerce giant JD.com, predicted that robots will replace 700,000 delivery workers in China sooner or later. According to a report by the Financial Times, early experimental versions of this business model are already operational in China.

Details

Liu did not specify a precise timeline for the full replacement but emphasized that the trend toward automation is irreversible. JD.com is already developing autonomous delivery vehicles and drones for urban and rural delivery.

Context

The statement comes amid accelerating automation in logistics and delivery sectors globally. Companies like Amazon (AMZN), Walmart (WMT), and UPS (UPS) are heavily investing in similar technologies. In China, delivery firms face cost pressures and labor shortages in some regions.

What This Means for Investors

Automation may lower costs for delivery and e-commerce companies in the long run, but it raises questions about job displacement and potential regulatory hurdles. Investors in stocks like JD.com, Amazon, and UPS may see varying impacts depending on adoption speed and adaptation.

Frequently Asked Questions

Richard Liu is the founder and chairman of JD.com, one of China's largest e-commerce companies.

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This article was rewritten in Wrqti's editorial style based on information from the original source above. Content is informational only — not investment advice.