Amazon Lays Off 250 Employees: Notifications Sent via Email and Text on the Morning of October 28; 16,000 Employees Let Go in January
Tech and e-commerce giant Amazon has laid off approximately 250 employees from its Devices and Services unit. According to a Reuters report, the company has confirmed these layoffs.
This decision comes shortly after the company launched new Kindle e-readers, tablets, and five new Alexa-powered smart devices. The software development team has been the most affected by these job cuts.
HR Email Arrives Wednesday Morning; Access Revoked
According to reports, employees were informed of the layoffs via email and text message on the morning of October 28. The email was sent by Cheri Robinson, HR Vice President for the Devices and Services unit.
The email stated that the company had reviewed its organizational structure, which necessitated the elimination of certain roles. A company spokesperson issued a statement confirming the “difficult decision” to eliminate some positions, noting that the move was intended to improve operational efficiency and align with the company’s product roadmap.
16,000 Employees Laid Off in January This Year
Amazon has seen large-scale layoffs over the past year. Earlier this year, in January, the company let go of 16,000 employees, while 14,000 employees were laid off in October of last year.
Decision Announced on the Same Day as the Launch of 5 New Alexa Devices
Notably, this decision to implement layoffs within the Devices division was announced on the very same day that Amazon introduced five new Alexa-powered smart devices to the market. Amidst stiff competition from rivals like Apple and OpenAI, the company is introducing a new version of its voice assistant.
Range of newly launched products:
Echo Show 16: Features a 16-inch screen, built-in Fire TV, and a night-vision camera; priced at approximately $499.99 (around ₹42,000).
Echo Studio: A speaker with a built-in camera capable of object recognition; priced at $249.99 (around ₹21,000).
Echo Dot: Includes a built-in smart home hub and Wi-Fi extender; priced at $99.99 (around ₹8,400).
Echo Time: A bedside clock equipped with sleep-sensing technology; priced at $199 (around ₹16,700).
Alexa Photo Frame: A digital frame that syncs with Amazon Photos; priced at $199.99 (around ₹16,800).
A message to engineers: Embrace AI or risk falling behind.
Just one day before the news of layoffs, Amazon sent an internal message to its software engineers. Titled “The Role of a Developer in the Age of AI,” the message—authored by the company’s engineering leadership—emphasized that the specific tools used matter less than the actual results achieved.
The message stated, “We all need to embrace this shift and dedicate time to learning; otherwise, we risk falling behind. The impact of AI on software engineering is only just beginning. Regardless of what future best practices may look like, one thing is certain: AI will remain at the core of software engineering.”
