A new report based on internal company documents has uncovered Amazon‘s extensive plan to replace a large part of its human workforce with robots. The leaked information suggests the company could eliminate more than 600,000 positions through automation.
According to The New York Times, which reviewed the documents and spoke with insiders, the team in charge of robotics at Amazon has set a specific target. Their objective is to use machines to handle 75 percent of the company’s warehouse tasks. A key reason for this shift is cost savings. Company estimates indicate that for every product handled by robots instead of people, Amazon could save 30 cents.
Amazon, which employs about 1.56 million people globally, has always publicly stated that its robots help workers and create better jobs. But the internal plans tell another story, focusing on a long-term strategy to reduce dependence on human labor. The ultimate goal is to have some warehouses that operate with almost no human staff.
A warehouse in Shreveport, Louisiana, serves as the blueprint for this automated operation. It uses roughly a thousand robots, and internal records show that this technology allowed the facility to operate last year with 25 percent fewer workers than it would have otherwise needed. Amazon intends to roll out the Shreveport model to 40 additional sites by the end of 2027.
The internal communications reveal that Amazon is sensitive to the potential backlash. The documents advised staff to avoid using terms like “automation” and instead use softer phrases like “advanced technology.” The company also considered taking part in local events, such as parades and toy drives, to foster a positive public image in communities affected by job losses.
An Amazon spokesperson responded to the report by stating that the documents were not representative of the company’s broader hiring plans and reflected the views of a single team. They noted the company’s announcement to hire 250,000 temporary workers for the holiday season but did not clarify how many would become permanent employees.