Reuters has reported that another large tranche of workers at Amazon are expected to be laid off shortly, specifically those involved in developing Amazon’s retail business, as well as its Web Services (AWS), Prime Video and human resources departments.
This, it suggests, is as a result of a growing reliance on AI that can introduce greater efficiencies. However the report also points to comments from CEO Andy Jassy that the layoffs so far have not been financially-riven or possibly even AI-driven but are instead the result of too much bureaucracy in the business.
Certainly, as the technology has propelled Amazon and others to rapid growth, the number of people involved in delivering that growth has mushroomed. In a bid to reduce the “layers” as Jassy referred to it, the company could well end up reducing its total white-collar workforce by around 10%, Reuters estimated. Amazon has yet to comment on the prediction.
