The U.S. Postal Service (USPS) is evaluating how artificial intelligence (AI) can improve hiring, streamline operations, and reduce costs, according to a new white paper released by the USPS Office of Inspector General (OIG).

“Although AI experimentation across the postal sector is widespread, broad adoption beyond traditional tools like Optical Character Recognition (OCR) and chatbots remains limited. Most operators still use AI for narrow, well-defined tasks rather than end-to-end process management or autonomous decision-making,” the OIG states.

The report highlights how AI could help recruiters identify qualified candidates by screening resumes for specific skills and experience. While AI is expected to play a larger role in workforce management, the OIG said the technology is more likely to complement employees than replace them, while creating demand for new AI-related roles.

Beyond hiring, USPS is exploring advanced forms of AI, including agentic, contextual, embodied, and quantum AI, to support autonomous postal robots and improve operational efficiency. However, the OIG cautioned that AI investments must be balanced against other priorities, including network modernization, workforce management, and long-term financial stability.

The report further noted that USPS had identified 35 AI use cases as of the end of 2025, including route optimization, workforce scheduling, fraud detection, autonomous delivery, customer service, passport processing, and internal documentation.