Amazon is planning to lay off at least 30,000 employees, which is nearly 10 per cent of its roughly 350,000 corporate workforce, to make up for “overhiring” during the pandemic, reports Reuters. The e-commerce and tech giant will replace at least 14,000 workers with generative AI.
Amazon to lay off 30,000 employees
The decision to lay off 30,000 employees marks the largest corporate job cuts in Amazon’s history, according to CNBC. The layoffs will reduce “bureaucracy” and help Amazon invest “in our biggest bets”, Beth Galetti, senior vice president of people experience and technology at Amazon, wrote in a blog post.
Amazon CEO Andy Jassy announced in June this year that the company would shrink its workforce because of generative AI. She told staffers that Amazon required “fewer people doing some of the jobs that are being done today”, as per CNBC.
Amazon faces backlash over decision to cut 30,000 jobs
Amazon has been facing strong criticism for its decision to cut 30,000 jobs. Spencer Hakimian, the founder of Tolou Capital Management, condemned the move. “AI is destroying the economy,” he wrote on X, formerly Twitter.
Also read: Amazon layoffs to affect 14,000 jobs as CEO Andy Jassy taps AI to reduce costs
{{/usCountry}}Also read: Amazon layoffs to affect 14,000 jobs as CEO Andy Jassy taps AI to reduce costs
{{/usCountry}}“Amazon gutting 30,000 jobs while its CEO gets richer by the minute,” wrote another user. “Classic corporate greed,” they added. An account by the name Jane of North claimed, “The Waltons and Bezos want Americans poor, hungry, and desperate”.
Meanwhile, US Senator from Vermont, Bernie Sanders, tweeted that Amazon is planning to “replace 600,000 workers with robots as Jeff Bezos accelerates his plan to automate warehouses.” He also pointed out that the e-commerce giant received a “$16 billion tax break” from US President Donald Trump this year.
FAQs:
How many jobs does Amazon plan to replace with generative AI?
Amazon plans to replace as many as 14,000 jobs with generative AI.
Who is the current CEO of Amazon?
Andy Jassy is the current CEO of Amazon.
Why is Amazon laying off as many as 30,000 employees?
Amazon is laying off as many as 30,000 employees to make up for “overhiring” during the pandemic.
Who is the founder of Amazon?
Jeff Bezos is the founder of Amazon.