Amazon has announced plans to cut approximately 14,000 jobs globally as part of its ongoing strategy to enhance efficiency and integrate artificial intelligence (AI) into its operations. This decision, confirmed by senior vice president of people and technology Beth Galetti, reflects the company's aim to streamline its workforce and reduce bureaucratic layers. In a letter to employees, Galetti described AI as "the most transformative technology since the internet" and emphasised the need for a leaner organisational structure. She stated, "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." The job cuts will affect nearly 10% of Amazon's corporate workforce, which totals around 350,000 employees. While the specific impact on Amazon's 75,000 UK workforce remains unclear, reports indicate that divisions such as human resources, operations, devices and services, and Amazon Web Services (AWS) are likely to be affected. Galetti addressed potential concerns regarding the layoffs, noting, "Some may ask why we’re reducing roles when the company is performing well. Across our businesses, we're delivering great customer experiences every day, innovating at a rapid rate, and producing strong business results. What we need to remember is that the world is changing quickly." The announcement follows previous warnings from CEO Andy Jassy about the potential for AI to replace certain roles within the company. Jassy has indicated that the rise of generative AI will necessitate a shift in the composition of Amazon's corporate teams, stating, "We will need fewer people doing some of the jobs that are being done today, and more people doing other types of jobs." This latest round of layoffs comes after Amazon has already reduced its workforce by over 27,000 jobs in 2022 and 2023, amid broader challenges in the tech sector. The company has been under pressure to cut costs and improve profitability, particularly as growth in its cloud computing division, AWS, has slowed. In addition to the job cuts, Amazon recently announced the closure of all 19 of its Amazon Fresh grocery stores in the UK, putting around 250 jobs at risk. Despite these reductions, Amazon continues to hire seasonal warehouse staff, adding 250,000 temporary roles globally in preparation for the holiday shopping season. The company is set to release its quarterly earnings report on Thursday, which will provide further insights into its financial performance amid these significant changes.