Amazon plans to use artificial intelligence (AI) and robotics to avoid hiring more than 600,000 workers in the United States over the next decade, according to revelations in the New York Times . The company, which already employs more than a million people worldwide, aims to automate much of its operations by 2033 , when it expects to double the volume of products it sells.
Internal documents cited by the newspaper show that Amazon's robotics team is working to automate up to 75% of operations supply chain. That includes everything from warehouse management to product packaging and transportation.
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Robots that Reduce Costs and Human Resources Needs
The report says automation could eliminate 160,000 jobs in the U.S. by 2027, saving the company about 30 cents per product it stores and delivers. Based on these estimates, Amazon could save more than $12.6 billion in just two years (2025–2027).
The company has already introduced a series of robots that “collaborate” with humans — also known as cobots (collaborative robots) — that help carry items and speed up the sorting process. Amazon argues that these robots do not completely replace humans, but “free them” from repetitive or dangerous tasks.
Amazon's Image "Redefinition" Operation
Amazon is reportedly aware that its move to widespread automation could spark a strong social and political backlash. For this reason, according to the New York Times, the company has considered ways to improve its public imageby avoiding terms like “automation” or “artificial intelligence” in its public statements.
Instead, more “neutral” expressions are chosen, such as “advanced technology”, and the narrative that robots function as a complement to workers is promoted. At the same time, the company is considering participation in community programs to show that it remains a “good corporate citizen”, even as it drastically reduces staff needs.
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In an official statement, Amazon called the leaked documents “incomplete and not representative” of its overall strategy, insisting there were no instructions to avoid specific terms. However, the debate about the company’s true intentions has already begun.
The Economic and Social Implications
Economist Daron Acemoglu, who won the Nobel Prize in Economics in 2024, warned that if Amazon succeeds in its plans, “one of the largest employers in the US will be transformed from a job creator to a destroyer.” Acemoglu stressed that Amazon has a unique incentive to find ways to automate while remaining profitable — and that its success will serve as a model for the entire industry.
The broader impact of this trend could be decisive for the future of work. If large companies massively adopt similar strategies, millions of jobs in the logistics, warehousing and distribution industry are at risk of disappearing or being radically transformed.
Robots, Humans and the Next Decade
The conversation around automation is no longer about “if” but “how” and “when.” Amazon, as a pioneer in logistics technologies, is at the center of a transition that will affect not only the supply chain, but also the social fabric.
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The challenge for governments and workers will be to adapt to a hybrid model, where humans and robots coexist — in the hope that technology will lead to new forms of employment rather than mass unemployment.
The future of work is already in Amazon's distribution centers — and how the company manages it will determine how we all work tomorrow.
