Did Artificial Intelligence Really Drive Layoffs at Amazon and Other Firms? It Can Be Hard to Tell

Did artificial intelligence really drive layoffs at Amazon and other firms? It can be hard to tell

When Amazon announced it was cutting 16,000 corporate jobs, many assumed it was the latest phase of CEO Andy Jassy’s push to reduce the corporate workforce as AI brings more efficiency gains. But like other companies that have tied layoffs…

Are Amazon and other company layoffs really tied to AI? It's complicated, experts say

It can be hard to know if AI is the real reason behind layoffs or if it's the message a company wants to tell Wall Street.

Some Companies Link AI to Job Cuts, but the Reality is More Complex

When Amazon announced it was cutting 16,000 corporate jobs, many assumed it was part of CEO Andy Jassy's strategy to reduce the workforce as AI brings efficiency gains. N. Lee Plumb, who led AI enablement at Amazon, was among those laid off despite being a top user of the company's AI coding tool. This raises questions about whether AI is genuinely driving these layoffs or if companies are using it as a narrative to appease investors.