Amazon CEO Andy Jassy has stated that the company will reduce its corporate workforce due to efficiency gains from artificial intelligence (AI). However, this move has sparked criticism from employees who question Jassy’s leadership vision and the impact on middle management. Some employees worry about potential layoffs, including those at senior levels of the organization.
In an internal Slack message, one employee joked that reading their job description being replaced by AI was more motivating than usual. Another acknowledged that middle management could be easily replaced by Amazon’s AI app, suggesting that some employees may view Jassy’s move as a long-planned strategy.
The debate centers on how to position AI within the corporate environment, with many employees arguing that companies can either reduce their workforce or maintain current output and grow their business. Some employees question Jassy’s definition of success, prioritizing cost-cutting over customer satisfaction.
Concerns about relying too heavily on AI have also been raised, as some employees fear that it can lead to poor decisions and a future where people turn to AI to solve problems it caused in the first place. Others see this as part of Jassy’s relentless focus on cost cutting, which they believe lacks a clear vision for the company.
The impact on senior executives is also being questioned, with some employees wondering if AI-driven cuts will target rank-and-file workers while top leadership remains untouched. This has led to speculation about potential layoffs among SVPs under Jassy’s leadership.
Source: https://www.businessinsider.com/amazon-employees-criticize-ceo-jassys-ai-driven-job-cutting-plan-2025-6