Amazon plans to cut 16,000 jobs as AI competition heats up

Amazon announced it will cut 16,000 jobs, raising its announced reductions to about 30,000 over three months; company leaders said the changes aim to reduce management layers, increase ownership and remove bureaucracy.

Amazon announced a new round of job eliminations totaling 16,000 positions and said the changes are part of efforts to reduce management layers, increase ownership and remove bureaucracy. Company leaders framed the move as an organizational adjustment following an earlier wave of cuts in October. Those announced eliminations bring the total to about 30,000 over three months. Executives have also noted that automation and artificial intelligence are reshaping staffing needs. What is known: - Amazon announced it will eliminate 16,000 roles, the company said. - The new eliminations bring announced job cuts to about 30,000 in three months after an initial round in October. - An Amazon executive, Galetti, said the changes aim to reduce layers, increase ownership and remove bureaucracy; CEO Andy Jassy has said AI and automation will shrink parts of the workforce. Summary: The company describes these moves as organizational adjustments focused on management layers and bureaucracy, and officials link some changes to increased automation and AI. Undetermined at this time.