Amazon CEO predicts AI takeover, issues stark warning to staff

Amazon’s CEO Andy Jassy on Wednesday, June 18, 2025, warned that the rapid advancement of artificial intelligence could significantly reduce the number of corporate roles within the company in the coming years.

In a recent internal memo, Jassy told employees that generative AI systems and autonomous AI agents will reshape the nature of work and reduce the need for human involvement in certain tasks.

“As we integrate more generative AI tools and autonomous agents into our operations, the way we work will evolve,” Jassy wrote.

“This means we’ll likely need fewer employees in some areas where jobs are currently being performed, while demand will grow in others.”

Jassy emphasized that although it’s difficult to predict the exact outcome, Amazon anticipates a decline in the size of its corporate workforce over the next few years.

This it says is due to AI-driven efficiencies.

Amazon currently employs around 1.5 million people globally, with about 350,000 in corporate roles such as software development, marketing, and administrative support.

The comments come as a growing number of industry leaders acknowledge the disruptive potential of artificial intelligence in the workplace.

Over the weekend, the CEO of British telecommunications giant BT also suggested that AI innovations may lead to deeper staffing cuts.

Meanwhile, Dario Amodei, head of AI company Anthropic, said last month that AI could eliminate as much as half of all entry-level office jobs.

Jassy painted a picture of a future where AI agents are widely embedded in both professional and personal life.

“Soon, there will be billions of AI agents active across industries and individual households.

“These agents will be capable of handling a vast range of functions, from supporting businesses to assisting with everyday tasks like shopping, travel planning, and household chores,” he explained.

“Many of these tools have yet to be developed, but they are on the horizon, and approaching rapidly.”

Despite the anticipated disruptions, Jassy encouraged Amazon employees to embrace the technology rather than fear it.

He advised staff to deepen their understanding of AI by engaging with available training and development opportunities. “Be curious about AI,” he urged.

“Educate yourself.

“Those who adapt to this change, learn how to work with AI, help us build these capabilities, and focus on delivering value to customers will be in a strong position to lead and make a major impact within the company.”

The growing impact of AI on white-collar employment is being echoed by international policy and research organizations.

The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) has warned that generative AI technologies could lead to significant job losses in skilled professions.

These include law, finance, and healthcare.

According to the International Monetary Fund (IMF), roughly 60% of jobs in advanced economies such as the U.S. and U.K. are susceptible to AI.

Also, about half of these roles could be adversely affected.

While there is widespread concern about potential job displacement, some analysts and think tanks believe the shift could also create new employment opportunities.

The Tony Blair Institute, a policy organization advocating for the adoption of AI in both the public and private sectors, estimates that up to 3 million private-sector jobs could be lost in the U.K. due to AI.

However, the institute also suggests that many of these losses could be offset by the emergence of new roles driven by the technology.

The broader message from Jassy and other industry leaders is clear: AI is no longer a futuristic concept, but a present-day force transforming the world of work.

Companies that embrace AI early and employees who proactively develop relevant skills may be best positioned to thrive in this changing landscape.

As Amazon gears up to expand its AI capabilities, the tech giant is urging its workforce to evolve alongside the technology or risk being left behind.

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