Review of Artificial Intelligence Use and Scalability in the Postal Sector

A new review conducted by USPS Office of Inspector General research analyst Rick Schadelbauer reveals how global postal and logistics organizations are integrating artificial intelligence into their processes.

Global Artificial Intelligence Research

As part of the research, 20 different organizations—including foreign posts, logistics providers, consultants, and the postal service itself—were contacted to examine the use of artificial intelligence.

The interviews revealed that all contacted postal organizations use artificial intelligence in some form, though implementation stages vary between pilot projects and established use cases.

Prominent Applications in Postal and Logistics

Key applications identified include computer vision systems used to correct missing addresses and detect fraudulent mail, as well as robotic systems capable of sorting between 3,000 and 4,000 parcels per day.

In delivery operations, artificial intelligence provides route optimization while contributing to better estimation of delivery times in customer service.

Maturity Curve in Artificial Intelligence Deployment

The research defines a three-stage maturity curve in artificial intelligence usage: in the first stage, artificial intelligence assists humans; in the second stage, it coordinates data; and in the third stage, it makes independent decisions.

Currently, the USPS and other postal organizations are positioned between the first and second stages.

Future Goals and Performance Metrics

The USPS aims to more accurately predict shipment arrival times at facilities in the future through dynamic route adjustments that respond to real-time traffic, weather, and construction work.

Success derived from return on investment, efficiency, cost reduction, and customer experience serve as critical evaluation metrics.