Amazon will lay off up to 30,000 corporate employees on Tuesday, around 10% of its 350,000-strong corporate workforce.
For many, the day will start with an email signalling that their roles no longer exist—a stark reminder of how artificial intelligence continues to reshape one of the world’s largest companies.
Amazon Begins Major Layoffs
Consequently, the cuts will affect multiple divisions, including human resources (known internally as People Experience and Technology), operations, devices, and Amazon Web Services.
In response, CEO Andy Jassy has described the move as part of his campaign to remove “excess bureaucracy” and simplify management.
AI Drives Workforce Change
Over the past year, employees have submitted 1,500 suggestions through an anonymous feedback channel, which led to more than 450 process improvements.
Moreover, AI plays a central role in the changes.
Jassy has explained that it reduces repetitive, manual tasks—a point analysts also emphasise.
Sky Canaves from eMarketer notes, “Amazon is likely realising enough AI-driven productivity gains to justify significant workforce reductions.”
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Impact And Industry Trends
Managers briefed their teams on Monday and will send employee notifications starting Tuesday.
HR may suffer the biggest cuts, potentially losing up to 15% of staff.
Meanwhile, the company enforces strict office attendance rules, requiring employees to work on-site five days a week.
Consequently, staff who fail to comply leave voluntarily, allowing Amazon to avoid severance costs.
Furthermore, the layoffs reflect broader tech industry trends.
Companies have already cut over 98,000 jobs globally in 2025, following 153,000 in 2024.
Meta has also reduced staff across Africa, Europe, and Asia, although local laws spared some employees.
Ultimately, AI does more than innovate at Amazon.
It actively reshapes workflows and determines who performs which tasks, signalling a new era for the company.
