Amazon Employees Warn AI Expansion Risks Jobs and Climate Commitments

Amazon Employees Warn AI Expansion Risks Jobs and Climate Commitments
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More than 1,000 Amazon employees have signed an anonymous open letter warning that the company’s rapid expansion of artificial intelligence threatens workers’ jobs, raises environmental risks and could undermine democratic norms, The Guardian reported. The letter, released this week and organized through Amazon Employees for Climate Justice, follows recent mass layoffs linked to Amazon’s adoption of AI tools across its operations.

Signatories include engineers, product managers and warehouse staff. They argue that Amazon’s “all-costs justified” approach to AI is increasing pressure on employees, driving unrealistic productivity demands and accelerating layoffs. The concerns echo those of more than 2,400 additional supporters from major technology companies, including Google, Meta, Apple and Microsoft.

The letter accuses Amazon of prioritizing energy-intensive AI infrastructure over climate pledges. While the company committed in 2019 to achieving net-zero emissions by 2040, workers say its emissions have risen by more than a third since then. They warn that Amazon’s planned multi-billion-dollar data-center investments could prolong reliance on fossil fuels in regions where new facilities are being built.

The employees also call for stronger oversight of AI deployment, including a worker-led group with authority over how AI is used and how AI-related workforce reductions are handled. Amazon disputed the claims, saying it remains the world’s largest corporate purchaser of renewable energy and continues investing in technologies to meet its climate goals.