Amazon is accelerating its automation efforts, with plans to dramatically expand the number of robots in its warehouses. The move could potentially replace more than 6,00,000 jobs by 2030, according to leaked internal documents cited by The New York Times.
The documents reportedly reveal that Amazon’s robotics division is targeting automation of up to 75 per cent of its operations, which could reduce the need for roughly 1,60,000 US employees who may otherwise have been hired by 2027. This shift is projected to generate an estimated $12.6 billion in savings between 2025 and 2027.
Amazon expects the increased use of automation to double its goods output over the same period, positioning robotics as a key driver of productivity and cost efficiency.
The report also highlighted that Amazon is preparing for potential public backlash over the expansion of automation. The company reportedly intends to use softer language such as ‘advanced technology’ or ‘cobots’ (collaborative robots) instead of terms such as ‘AI’ or ‘automation’ when communicating about its robotics strategy.
However, Amazon has strongly pushed back against the portrayal in the leaked documents. Kelly Nantel, an Amazon spokesperson, said: “Leaked documents often paint an incomplete and misleading picture of our plans, and that’s the case here. In our written narrative culture, thousands of documents circulate throughout the company at any given time, each with varying degrees of accuracy and timeliness. In this instance, the materials appear to reflect the perspective of just one team and don’t represent our overall hiring strategy across our various operations business lines — now or moving forward. The facts speak for themselves: No company has created more jobs in America over the past decade than Amazon. We’re actively hiring at operations facilities across the country and recently announced plans to fill 250,000 positions for the holiday season.”
In additional background information provided to The New York Times, an Amazon spokesperson clarified that there is no company directive to avoid terms like automation or AI in internal or external communications. The company said it ensures its teams understand the purpose and benefits of technology used in its facilities, including its impact on safety, efficiency, and employee upskilling opportunities.
The spokesperson also denied any link between Amazon’s retrofit project at ATL2 and local community initiatives, stating that it is “inaccurate” to connect such efforts.
The development underscores growing concerns about the future of human labour in automated supply chains. While Amazon maintains that robotics improve safety and efficiency, analysts warn that large-scale automation could significantly reshape warehouse employment and the broader logistics workforce over the next decade.
