Changed by AI: Amazon cuts 14,000 jobs in its biggest-ever workforce slash for ‘guess’ on synthetic intelligence

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Your assist makes all of the distinction. Learn extra Amazon is slicing 14,000 company jobs because the nation’s second-largest retailer stakes an enormous “guess” on synthetic intelligence to switch human staff.

The job cuts, introduced Tuesday, are the primary wave that might have an effect on as many as 30,000 company jobs – the most important layoffs within the Jeff Bezos-owned firm’s historical past, in line with Reuters and the Wall Avenue Journal.

In a letter to workers, senior vice chairman of individuals and expertise Beth Galetti defined the corporate’s determination, calling AI “essentially the most transformative expertise because the web.” She stated the emphasis would stay on folks taking extra possession of labor, with fewer layers within the hierarchy.

“The reductions we’re sharing as we speak are a continuation of this work to get even stronger by additional lowering paperwork, eradicating layers, and shifting assets to make sure we’re investing in our largest bets and what issues most to our prospects’ present and future wants,” Galetti stated within the letter.

It's unclear what the affect on Amazon’s 75,000 U.Okay. workforce will likely be, however reviews in Reuters and the WSJ steered international divisions, together with human assets, operations, units and companies, and Amazon Net Providers, are anticipated to be affected.

<img src="https://static.independent.co.uk/2025/10/28/14/33/GettyImages-2221578197.jpg" srcset="https://static.independent.co.uk/2025/10/28/14/33/GettyImages-2221578197.jpg?quality=75&width=320&auto=webp 320w, https://static.independent.co.uk/2025/10/28/14/33/GettyImages-2221578197.jpg?quality=75&width=640&auto=webp 640w" loading="lazy" alt="The job cuts, announced Tuesday, are the first wave that could affect as many as 30,000 corporate jobs – the largest layoffs in the Jeff Bezos-owned company’s history" class="sc-1mc30lb-0 ggpMaE inline-gallery-btn"/> open picture in gallery

The job cuts, introduced Tuesday, are the primary wave that might have an effect on as many as 30,000 company jobs – the most important layoffs within the Jeff Bezos-owned firm’s historical past (AFP by way of Getty Pictures) In late July, Amazon introduced its working revenue had jumped from $14.7 billion a 12 months in the past to $19.2 billion, which Galetti alluded to within the letter.

“Some might ask why we’re lowering roles when the corporate is performing effectively. Throughout our companies, we’re delivering nice buyer experiences on daily basis, innovating at a fast charge, and producing robust enterprise outcomes. What we have to bear in mind is that the world is altering rapidly,” Galetti stated.

Intelligence analyst Amanda Goodall criticized the tone of Galetti’s letter, which was titled “Staying nimble and persevering with to strengthen our organizations.”

“Dontcha simply love these buzzwords they provide you with to make it not really feel so dangerous?” Goodall stated in a submit on X.

<img src="https://static.independent.co.uk/2025/10/28/10/41/GettyImages-2194917027.jpeg" srcset="https://static.independent.co.uk/2025/10/28/10/41/GettyImages-2194917027.jpeg?quality=75&width=320&auto=webp 320w, https://static.independent.co.uk/2025/10/28/10/41/GettyImages-2194917027.jpeg?quality=75&width=640&auto=webp 640w" loading="lazy" alt="In a letter to staff, senior vice president of people and technology Beth Galetti explained the company’s decision, calling AI ‘the most transformative technology since the internet’" class="sc-1mc30lb-0 ggpMaE inline-gallery-btn"/> open picture in gallery

In a letter to workers, senior vice chairman of individuals and expertise Beth Galetti defined the corporate’s determination, calling AI ‘essentially the most transformative expertise because the web’ (AFP/Getty) The cuts will affect virtually a tenth of the corporate’s roughly 350,000 company workforce. Amazon employs greater than 1.5 million workers in complete, with the bulk in warehouse roles world wide.

CEO Andy Jassy had beforehand cautioned workers that some roles throughout the firm could possibly be changed by AI.

“As we roll out extra Generative AI and brokers, it ought to change the best way our work is finished,” Jassy stated in June. “We'll want fewer folks doing a few of the jobs which are being completed as we speak, and extra folks doing different varieties of jobs.”

Amazon has been trimming roles throughout the enterprise lately, with cuts affecting divisions equivalent to units, communications and podcasting.

AI is already changing hundreds of jobs every month because the U.S. job market struggles amid international commerce uncertainty, in line with an August report.