In a recent interview, Amazon CEO Andy Jassy discussed how he sees artificial intelligence (AI) radically changing the company’s workforce. Aldana spelled out these lessons in a recent, candid memo to employees. Jassy indicated that the increasing capabilities of AI technology could lead to a reduction in corporate jobs, particularly for roles that are highly automatable.
His memo signaled the company’s long-term view that AI should be integrated across its business. He noted that as the organization increasingly adopted automation, requirements for different roles would change drastically. He stated, “We will need fewer people doing some of the jobs that are being done today, and more people doing other types of jobs.”
A new union member survey gives further indication that a major shift is taking place. It indicates that 40% of employers across sectors plan to reduce their workforce even as they adopt AI solutions. This seemingly simple statistic tells us so much about an unprecedented shift in the labor market. Now, organizations have their eyes set on driving greater operational efficiency and effectiveness through technology. This survey is just one signal of a more widespread worker apprehension across the labor market about job risk from emerging technologies.
Jassy’s memo is a perfect accompaniment to these findings, indicative of Amazon getting its ducks in a row for a long-awaited sea change in its employee relations. He noted that many jobs would be lost. The need for skilled workers who can drive, develop and support AI technologies will only increase. This shift might mean that current employees need to transition into new roles or learn new skills.
Amazon’s commitment to integrating AI into its operations is not new. The company has consistently invested in technology to improve customer experiences and operational efficiency. The possible job cuts would mark a historic turn in the agency’s use of its human capital. This modification coincides with the company’s overall pivot to new mode of technological capabilities.
As big players such as Amazon pursue the potential of AI, workers are left in an ecosystem of unclear expectations on what their jobs will look like moving forward. The spotlight cast upon automation lays bare the critical need for workforce development programs to assist those who will lose their jobs.