Amazon has announced a new wave of job cuts, with 16,000 positions eliminated among its corporate employees. This is the second massive reduction in three months, following 14,000 job cuts already announced at the end of October, amid fierce competition among tech giants in the field of artificial intelligence.
The group justifies this plan by the need to improve internal efficiency. In a message published Wednesday, the head of human resources, Beth Galetti, explains that the company wants to reduce hierarchical levels, accelerate decision-making, and eliminate what she describes as "bureaucracy."
A restructuring that affects the heart of office teams
According to several concurring reports, the cuts would affect multiple divisions, including AWS, Alexa, Prime Video, connected devices, advertising, and last-mile logistics. This wave would bring the total number of job losses since October to approximately 30,000, representing nearly 10% of the company's estimated workforce of around 350,000 people.
Amazon maintains, however, that this is not a regular cycle of layoffs, even though CEO Andy Jassy has already indicated that AI will transform jobs and reduce certain labor needs. Most of the affected employees should be given a 90-day period to try to find a new position within the company, or a severance package with compensation.
AI as an engine… and as a social disruption
This announcement comes as Amazon invests heavily in generative AI and computing infrastructure to remain competitive against Microsoft, Google, Meta, and OpenAI. The company emphasizes that the rationale is not solely budgetary, but strategic: to simplify the organization to innovate faster and remain agile in a rapidly changing sector.
Meanwhile, Amazon confirmed the closure of its last remaining Amazon Fresh and Amazon Go stores, illustrating a refocusing on its most profitable businesses, particularly Whole Foods and cloud computing. This restructuring confirms that AI is no longer just a technological tool: it is now profoundly reshaping industrial choices and employment in large companies.
