Amazon plans gigantic restructuring: 1.5 million jobs in danger!

Amazon plans gigantic restructuring: 1.5 million jobs in danger!

Amazon plans to significantly expand the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in the coming years. CEO Andy Jassy announced that this initiative will probably lead to a reduction in the workforce. At the end of last year, Amazon employed around 1.5 million partial and full-time forces, and the effects of AI integration could result in profound changes, both in the company and on the labor market as a whole. Jassy emphasized that AI agents could play a central role in revolutionizing the way of working in the company. There are fewer employees needed for some tasks, but more may be necessary in other areas.

The introduction of AI agents who can take on complex tasks independently is assessed as particularly promising. The term “AI agent” refers to more complex systems that are able to make decisions independently and to control processes in real time. We also observe comparable developments in other large tech companies such as Microsoft and Google, which Agentic AI consider a key technology for the next automation level by recognizing patterns and developing strategies to achieve efficiency gains. These technologies could not only find professional applications, but also influence everyday tasks such as shopping and traveling.

technological progress and its consequences

The technology behind Agentic AI brings with it both opportunities and challenges. Agentic AI has the potential to fundamentally change companies by learning independently and making decisions without constant human guidance. This is in contrast to conventional AI, which is often dependent on specific instructions. Examples of applications are in the areas of logistics, where Agentic AI optimizes storage capacities, as well as in healthcare, where it submits independent suggestions of action. Despite these possibilities, the technical and ethical discussion about their development and use remains of great importance, in particular with regard to data protection and algorithmic distortion.

The effects of AI on the labor market are more profound than often assumed. Forecasts indicate that AI technologies, such as voice models and autonomous systems, could potentially affect up to two thirds of the jobs. Occupations with a higher level of education in particular could be severely affected, since up to 56 % of the work tasks of these groups could be influenced by AI. At the same time, there is also hope for new fields of activity that could arise from the introduction of AI. According to a study from Germany, for example, around 48,000 new jobs have already found their origin between limited AI use between 2016 and 2018.

The fast development of AI systems not only requires technological innovations, but also careful preparation in legal and ethical aspects. The EU Parliament passed a AI law in June 2023 that defines clear guidelines and risk levels for the use of AI. While AI potential has to improve work quality and efficiency, companies have to carefully weigh up how and where they can use AI to effectively minimize the associated risks.