On June 17, 2025, Amazon CEO Andy Jassy sent a rare, direct memo saying that artificial intelligence and automation will lead to a smaller corporate team in the next few years. This marks one of the first times a top tech executive has openly linked AI to job cuts washingtonpost.com+6ft.com+6marketwatch.com+6.
Efficiency gains: More generative AI and autonomous agents are being used across logistics, coding, customer support, and more—allowing Amazon to do the same work with fewer people theguardian.com+1theregister.com+1.
Massive AI investment: Amazon is pouring roughly $100 billion into AI infrastructure and projects this year ft.com+1businessinsider.com+1.
White‑collar corporate roles: Many traditional office jobs—from software engineers to marketing staff—could be replaced or reshaped.
Repetitive and data‑driven tasks: Functions like inventory forecasting, product-page management, and internal analytics are strong AI targets marketwatch.com+7theguardian.com+7businessinsider.com+7businessinsider.com.
Inside Amazon, reactions are mixed:
“There is nothing more motivating on a Tuesday than reading that your job will be replaced by AI in a few years.”
“At least he said the quiet part out loud.” thetimes.co.uk+11businessinsider.com+11ft.com+11
Some staff worry about job security and want more clarity, while others appreciate the honesty and see it as a chance to innovate.
Jassy encouraged staff to embrace AI, try tools and trainings, and shift toward higher‑value roles that AI can’t easily replace—such as designers, strategists, or AI overseers nypost.com+10businessinsider.com+10marketwatch.com+10.
More AI in daily work: Expect AI to handle everything from code to basic client communication.
Job transformation, not just loss: Some roles will disappear, but new positions—like AI product managers or data auditors—will emerge.
Upskill or get left behind: Staying relevant will demand adapting, learning and evolving your skill set.
Wider industry ripple effects: Other companies (like Microsoft, BT, Anthropic) are following similar paths washingtonpost.com+4
