World Business Report Amazon cuts 16,000 jobs as it pushes AI and efficiency
Jan 28, 2026
Tommy Wilkes, Reuters European finance editor, reports on Deutsche Bank raids. Susan Schmidt, portfolio manager, analyzes big tech earnings and Fed policy. Channing Kelly-Ray, former AWS diversity director, discusses local and social impacts of mass layoffs and AI shifts. Aaron Canna, ex-AWS AI engineer, explains Amazon’s internal AI use and its effect on roles. Multiple short takes on AI-driven workforce change and corporate strategy.
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AI-Driven White‑Collar Cuts At Amazon
- Amazon cut 16,000 white-collar jobs as it adopts AI to streamline operations and reduce layers of management.
- The layoffs disproportionately hit communities where Amazon is an anchor employer and remove many entry-level opportunities.
Amazon Is Dogfooding And Selling AI
- Aaron Canna says Amazon is using its own AI tools internally while selling the same automation to customers.
- This dual role could spread job displacement beyond Amazon into many other companies that buy AWS AI services.
Students Losing Expected Tech Entry Points
- Channing Kelly‑Ray recounts telling university students to study tech only to see entry‑level roles vanish as AI requires experience upfront.
- She warns internships and first jobs that once launched careers are disappearing, leaving graduates stranded.
