Amazon announces layoffs among corporate staff as AI reshapes internal operations

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Amazon is laying off hundreds of corporate workers as it reorganises internal teams to accelerate the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) across its global operations. The decision, which affects roles in human resources, retail operations, and cloud services, reflects the company’s ongoing effort to align its workforce with a more AI-centric business model.

Executives said the layoffs are part of a “strategic restructuring” designed to eliminate redundancy and enhance efficiency as generative AI tools become central to Amazon’s retail and logistics engines. The company has also redirected funding towards automation initiatives, including predictive inventory systems and AI-assisted customer service operations.

In a statement, Amazon said it continues to “invest aggressively in innovation and efficiency,” emphasising that affected employees will receive severance packages and transition support.

The latest cuts follow earlier rounds of layoffs across Amazon’s devices, entertainment, and advertising divisions, signalling a broader transformation of the company’s workforce composition in the AI era.

Industry analysts view these layoffs as part of a wider trend among tech giants repositioning themselves for AI-first growth. Similar moves have been seen at Google, Meta, and Microsoft, all of which are restructuring teams to integrate machine learning and automation into core business functions.

While Amazon’s retail and AWS businesses remain strong, experts note that the company’s focus on cost optimisation and technology reinvestment suggests a deliberate shift toward scalable, AI-powered growth models.