Amazon’s future will likely see far fewer desks filled by people who tap away at marketing or code.
Chief executive Andy Jassy recently laid out a vision that is as bold as it is unsettling for many office workers.
He spoke directly to staff in a memo to Amazon employees, making it clear that AI tools are no longer a thing of science fiction. These systems can already perform many routine tasks, and their growing power means Amazon expects to need fewer employees in certain fields within the next few years.
Jassy remarked, “We will need fewer people doing some of the jobs that are being done today, and more people doing other types of jobs.”
Although Amazon’s workforce numbers soar past a million, only a portion fill corporate roles. For those in those white collar roles, the message is clear — AI will reshape what jobs look like, and some of the existing ones simply will not be needed at the same scale.
Over the weekend, the BT chief executive joined the chorus, warning that automation could drive further reductions at the telecoms giant. Just weeks ago, Dario Amodei of Anthropic echoed this anxiety, warning that AI could eliminate half of all basic entry level office jobs.
Billions of AI Agents on the Horizon
Jassy pointed out that he expects these digital workers, or agents, to soon touch every part of daily life and business.
“There will be billions of these agents, across every company and in every imaginable field,” he noted. According to him, these AI helpers will not only reshape work but will move seamlessly into personal tasks like planning trips or buying groceries.
Global institutions have started to crunch the numbers, and the outlook remains sobering. The International Monetary Fund believes 60 percent of jobs in advanced economies like the United States and United Kingdom could be shaken up by AI. They estimate that half of those roles might feel direct negative effects.
Yet some believe the story is not all gloom. The Tony Blair Institute claims that while millions of UK private sector jobs could disappear as AI takes hold, new roles will arise as companies figure out fresh ways to use the technology.
Jassy closed his remarks by urging Amazon employees to get comfortable with learning new things, especially when it comes to artificial intelligence. “Those who embrace this change,” he wrote, “will be well positioned to have high impact and help us reinvent the company.” For more on how AI is shaping employment and business, see workforce changes prompted by artificial intelligence.
