Amazon CEO Andy Jassy has communicated to staff that artificial intelligence (AI) is expected to lead to a significant reduction in the company's corporate workforce over the next few years. In a recent memo, Jassy urged employees to 'be curious about AI' and embrace the transformative technology, acknowledging that AI will bring about 'efficiency gains' that necessitate a shift in the company's staffing needs. He foresees a future with 'fewer people doing some of the jobs that are being done today, and more people doing other types of jobs,' directly linking this to the extensive integration of AI across Amazon's operations.

This pronouncement from one of the world's largest employers adds to the growing concerns about AI's impact on global job markets. Tech leaders across the industry are increasingly vocal about the potential for AI to cause widespread job losses, particularly in entry-level white-collar roles. Dario Amodei, CEO of AI-firm Anthropic, has suggested AI could eliminate half of all entry-level white-collar jobs. Even 'Godfather of AI' Geoffrey Hinton has expressed skepticism that new jobs created by AI will fully offset those displaced, arguing that if AI can perform 'all mundane human intellectual labor,' truly new skilled positions might be limited.

Amazon, which employed over 1.5 million people globally by the end of last year, with approximately 350,000 in office roles, is already leveraging AI in 'virtually every corner of the company.' Jassy highlighted that many routine tasks, including shopping and daily chores, could eventually be performed by AI agents, emphasizing their rapid development and impending ubiquity. He advised that employees who adapt to and embrace these changes would be 'well-positioned' within the company. Already, half a million sellers on Amazon's platforms are utilizing the company's AI tools for product information, and advertisers are also adopting its AI offerings.

Career coaches and other prominent tech leaders echo Jassy's sentiment that embracing AI is not merely aspirational but a realistic necessity for workers. Ryan Leak, an executive coach, characterized AI as a 'tide that's shifting the entire shoreline of work,' stressing that future valuable workers will be those who remain curious and learn quickly. Marlo Lyons, a certified executive coach, strongly advises employees to learn AI and discuss its application to their roles, stating that jobs will inevitably change, and those who do not get on board risk job loss. However, experts like Kathryn Landis, an executive coach and professor at NYU, also point out that AI still has limitations in areas requiring 'judgment, nuance, and institutional context,' underscoring the enduring value of critical thinking skills.

Other tech executives reinforce the urgency of AI adoption. LinkedIn co-founder Reid Hoffman advocates for integrating AI into every team's daily work, suggesting regular meetings to share AI learnings. Shopify CEO Tobi Lütke has made AI usage a 'fundamental expectation,' requiring teams to demonstrate why AI cannot achieve desired outcomes before requesting more headcount. OpenAI's chief product officer, Kevin Weil, and Whoop's Hilary Gridley have also shared internal initiatives to encourage widespread AI adoption among their employees, highlighting that even non-technical staff are finding ways to leverage AI effectively.

The consensus among these leaders and experts is clear: the changes brought by AI are not hypothetical but are already manifesting. While some jobs will undoubtedly disappear or be phased out—with examples like Duolingo replacing contractors with AI or Salesforce potentially reducing engineer hiring due to AI efficiencies—many roles will primarily evolve. Experts like Christian Schneider, CEO of fileAI, suggest that AI will take over rote, back-office tasks, enabling workers to transition to more people-facing or quality-checking roles. The message to the workforce is that resisting this transformation is futile; instead, continuous learning and adaptation to AI tools are essential for navigating the evolving landscape of work and maintaining career relevance.