Amazon boss announces it may need ‘fewer' employees in coming years as company explores AI

Amazon employees have had their biggest fears confirmed as the CEO announced an increased use of AI may result in 'fewer' workers needed in the company.
In a message shared to Amazon employees this week, boss Andy Jassy stated AI is 'rapidly becoming reality,' as the company continues to invest in the technology.
'It's hard to know exactly where this nets out over time, but in the next few years, we expect that this will reduce our total corporate workforce as we get efficiency gains from using AI extensively across the country,' he said in the statement.
Amazon is continuing to develop Generative AI to 'change the scope and speed at which we can innovate for customers,' and think 'strategically about how to improve customer experiences and invent new ones.'
'Today, we have over 1,000 Generative AI services and applications in progress or built,' Mr Jassy said.
Despite the high number of AI systems, Mr Jassy said Amazon is still at the 'relative beginning' of its journey with AI, and encouraged employees to invest in the service.
'Those who embrace this change, become conversant in AI, help us build and improve our AI capabilities internally and deliver for customers, will be well-positioned to have high impact.'
Frustrated employees have shared their thoughts in internal messages, revealed by Business Insider, claiming Mr Jassy has finally 'said the quiet part out loud.'
'There is nothing more motivating on a Tuesday than reading that your job will be replaced by AI in a few years,' one employee said.
'Our CEO doesn't seem to have a vision for the company other than 'do what we do today cheaper, and also AI will happen',' said another.
Other staff said Amazon should look for more ways to work alongside AI, rather than using it to replace employees.
'We need to lead the change in reframing AI as partners (even teammates or colleagues) rather than AI as replacements or tools,' an employee said.
It comes after popular language learning app Duolingo came under fire for announcing the platform would only hire new employees if they can prove work could not be automated with AI.
'We'll gradually stop using contractors to do work that AI can handle,' CEO Luis von Ahn said in a statement.

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