Andy Jassy says generative AI will automate tasks and reshape jobs
Amazon CEO Andy Jassy said artificial intelligence is already reshaping how work gets done at the company and will soon alter its workforce composition. In a recent interview with CNBC’s Jim Cramer, Jassy emphasized that AI will both eliminate routine roles and open new opportunities in advanced tech fields like robotics and machine learning.
“There will be fewer people doing some of the jobs that the technology actually starts to automate,” Jassy said, noting that AI is streamlining coding, analytics, and research functions. He added that this shift makes work “more interesting” by allowing employees to focus on innovation and higher-value tasks.
Corporate workforce to shrink as AI efficiency grows
Jassy’s remarks echoed an internal memo he sent last month to Amazon’s 1.5 million employees. In it, he explained that widespread AI integration will reduce the company’s total corporate headcount in the coming years. “We expect that this will reduce our total corporate workforce as we get efficiency gains from using AI extensively across the company,” he wrote.
Amazon has already laid off more than 27,000 workers in recent years. The CEO framed the AI transformation as an opportunity for workers willing to adapt. He urged employees to educate themselves, attend AI workshops, and experiment with new tools to increase productivity using leaner teams.
Jobs will evolve—not vanish entirely
While automation will shrink certain roles, Jassy stressed that AI will also generate demand for new skills and jobs, particularly in robotics, AI development, and complex decision-making areas. “I think that AI and generative AI specifically is the most transformative technology of our lifetime,” Jassy said. “Which is saying a lot, given that we have had the internet.”
The message is clear: employees who embrace AI and pivot to emerging roles will be better positioned in Amazon’s evolving workforce. Meanwhile, the company continues to bet heavily on AI, integrating it across departments to drive both operational efficiency and innovation.