Amazon cuts jobs in its artificial general intelligence division

Amazon Amazon.com, Inc. ↗ 1.61% on Wednesday cut jobs in its artificial general intelligence division, the latest in a string of targeted workforce reductions as the company reshapes its AI operations.

The cuts affected employees within the AGI group, which focuses on developing AI systems capable of operating autonomously and solving complex problems. Amazon did not disclose how many workers lost their positions. "We've been building large AI models for several years, and it remains one of the most important things we're working on," a company spokesperson told Reuters. "We're sharpening our focus on the initiatives that matter most for customers, so we can move faster on what counts. That focus means some difficult decisions, including eliminating some roles within parts of our AGI organization."Investing.com

A Pattern of Smaller Cuts

The AGI layoffs follow a series of more targeted reductions that have taken place since Amazon completed a major round of 16,000 corporate job cuts in January. In March, the company confirmed layoffs in its robotics unit, with at least 100 white-collar positions affected. A separate round in May hit the Selling Partner Services division.reuters+3

Together with the 14,000 corporate positions eliminated in October 2025, Amazon has cut roughly 30,000 corporate roles since late 2025, representing about 10% of its approximately 350,000 corporate workforce.CNBC+1

AI Investment Continues

The reductions come as Amazon pours resources into artificial intelligence. CEO Andy Jassy has said that increased automation and the deployment of generative AI tools will alter the nature of work at the company, requiring "fewer individuals for some current roles while needing more for other types of positions."reuters.com

Amazon's AGI division has experienced turnover at senior levels as well. In September 2025, Karthik Ramakrishnan, a vice president who helped oversee the AGI effort, stepped down after 13 years at the company.Reuters

Jassy has framed the broader restructuring as primarily a cultural correction after pandemic-era overhiring rather than an AI-driven displacement. "The announcement we made a few days ago was not primarily motivated by financial concerns, and it's not driven by AI at this moment," he told analysts during a third-quarter earnings call. "It's about culture."forbes