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Just one week after a report that Amazon wanted to replace 75% of its workforce with robots<\/span><\/span>, the online retail giant has announced that it is laying off 14,000 employees to reduce “bureaucracy” and invest in “our biggest bets” — namely, artificial intelligence<\/span><\/span>.<\/p>\n “This generation of AI is the most transformative technology we’ve seen since the internet, and it’s enabling companies to innovate much faster than ever before (in existing market segments and altogether new ones),” said Beth Galetti, SVP of People Experience and Technology, in a\u00a0blog post<\/span>\u00a0on Tuesday. “We’re convinced that we need to be organized more leanly, with fewer layers and more ownership, to move as quickly as possible for our customers and business.”<\/p>\n But a spokesperson for Amazon said not to blame artificial intelligence for most of the job losses.<\/p>\n “AI is not the reason behind the vast majority of reductions,” a company representative told CNET. The spokesperson said the reductions are part of the company’s effort at “reducing layers, increasing ownership, and helping reduce bureaucracy to drive speed and ownership, and be set up to invent, collaborate, be connected, and deliver the absolute best for customers.”<\/p>\n Don’t miss any of our unbiased tech content and lab-based reviews. <\/em>Add CNET<\/em> as a preferred Google source.<\/em><\/p>\n Citing information from Amazon workers, Reuters said the Amazon departments most affected\u00a0would be devices, advertising, Prime Video<\/span><\/span>, HR and Amazon Web Services. Twitch has also reportedly been affected.<\/p>\n Amazon’s major layoff today is impacting Twitch.
The exact number is not known at this time, but some affected individuals have been informed, and an internal email states that it will be “a small number.” pic.twitter.com\/KOsGAG3P7G<\/a><\/p>\n