Amazon to cut up to 1,000 jobs in India amid global AI restructuring
Amazon is reportedly planning to slash between 800 and 1,000 corporate roles in India as part of its ongoing global downsizing strategy. According to a report by The Economic Times, citing people aware of the matter, the number of job cuts could even exceed 1,000, aligning with Amazon’s confirmation of 14,000 layoffs worldwide.
AI shift behind the cuts
The layoffs come as the company sharpens its focus on artificial intelligence. CEO Andy Jassy had hinted in June that AI adoption would reduce Amazon’s human workforce, as more tasks are automated. Beth Galetti, senior vice president of people experience and technology, announced the 14,000 global job cuts on October 28, explaining that the move is part of an ongoing effort to streamline operations and “remove layers” within the organisation.
“The reductions we’re sharing today are a continuation of this work to get even stronger by further reducing bureaucracy, removing layers, and shifting resources to ensure we’re investing in our biggest bets,” Galetti wrote in a company blog post.
The global wave
Sources suggest that the layoffs in India will cut across departments including finance, marketing, human resources, and tech. The affected employees are reportedly those who report directly to Amazon’s global teams.
This move follows reports that Amazon could eliminate up to 30,000 roles globally — potentially the company’s largest round of job cuts since late 2022, when it shed around 27,000 positions.
Galetti justified the restructuring by pointing to the rapid technological changes underway. “Some may ask why we’re reducing roles when the company is performing well. What we need to remember is that the world is changing quickly. This generation of AI is the most transformative technology we’ve seen since the Internet,” she said, adding that it is helping businesses innovate faster than ever before.
Support for affected employees
Amazon has promised to provide support to affected staff. Galetti said most employees will be given about 90 days — depending on local laws — to look for new roles within the company. “Recruiting teams will prioritise internal candidates to help as many people as possible find new roles within Amazon,” she said.
For those unable to find internal opportunities, Amazon will offer transition support including severance pay, health benefits, and outplacement services.
Despite the job cuts, Galetti hinted at selective hiring in 2026. “We expect to continue hiring in key strategic areas while also finding additional places we can remove layers, increase ownership, and realise efficiency gains,” she noted.
