US EditionDid artificial intelligence really drive layoffs at Amazon and other firms? It can be hard to tell
Nearly 55,000 U.S. layoffs in 2025 were attributed to AI as companies balance cost-cutting with $80 billion AI infrastructure investments, analysts caution over simplified narratives.
- Amazon confirmed last week 16,000 additional corporate layoffs, bringing total job cuts to roughly 30,000 across late 2025 and early 2026.
- Company leaders said the cuts simplify structure and speed decisions, while others argue layoffs freed cash to fund massive GPU purchases and AI infrastructure at Amazon Web Services.
- Departments across AWS, retail, Prime Video and human resources were cut, and Amazon workers received 90 days' notice, severance and outplacement support.
- Amazon workers faced disruption despite company support, as layoffs aim to free cash for AI infrastructure spending amid industry strain, analysts say.
- Economists note it remains uncertain if AI caused layoffs as Pinterest and Dow cited AI while a Goldman Sachs report and the bank's Jan. 16 tracker found limited effects.
58 Articles
58 Articles
San Diego Union Tribune
Some companies tie AI to layoffs, but the reality is more complicated
By MATT O’BRIEN, Associated Press Technology Writer The one thing N. Lee Plumb knows for sure about being laid off from Amazon last week is that it wasn’t a failure to get on board with the company’s artificial intelligence plans. Related Articles What to ask when it’s time to move up 10 best sites to sell your stuff San Diego, developer at impasse over Turquoise tower in Pacific Beach …
Did artificial intelligence really drive layoffs at Amazon, other firms? It can be hard to tell - The Tribune
As companies from Amazon to Pinterest link job cuts to artificial intelligence, economists and affected employees say the real drivers may be cost-cutting, post-pandemic corrections, and messaging to investors.
Associated Press News
Did artificial intelligence really drive layoffs at Amazon and other firms? It can be hard to tell
When Amazon announced it was cutting 16,000 corporate jobs, many assumed it was the latest phase of CEO Andy Jassy’s push to reduce the corporate workforce as AI brings more efficiency gains.
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