Amazon employees slam CEO Andy Jassy's memo about AI killing corporate jobs

Core Viewpoint - Amazon CEO Andy Jassy indicated that AI will lead to a reduction in the company's white-collar workforce over the coming years, driven by efficiency gains, which has sparked significant backlash among employees [1][2]. Employee Reactions - Internal Slack channels revealed widespread criticism from Amazon's white-collar workers, with many expressing concerns about potential layoffs and the risks of overreliance on AI [2][7]. - Some employees highlighted the negative impact of Jassy's message, stating it was demotivating to hear that their jobs could be replaced by AI [3][8]. AI's Role in the Workplace - A key debate among employees centered on whether AI should be viewed as a partner or a replacement, with some arguing that a 50% productivity boost from AI could either lead to workforce reductions or business growth [4][5]. - Employees suggested that the company should reframe AI as a teammate rather than a tool for cost-cutting, contrasting with Jassy's vision of a smaller workforce [5][9]. Concerns About AI Dependence - Employees raised alarms about the dangers of relying too heavily on AI, noting that it can lead to poor decision-making and create problems that AI cannot solve [7][9]. - There were questions regarding whether Jassy's memo indicated further layoffs, with some employees expressing dread at the implications of his focus on cost-cutting [8][9]. Leadership Critique - Criticism was directed at Jassy's leadership style, with employees feeling that his approach prioritizes reducing costs over fostering a vision for the company's future [6][9]. - Some employees cynically questioned why AI-driven cuts seem to affect lower-level workers while senior executives remain unaffected, noting that the senior leadership team has expanded under Jassy's tenure [9][10].