Amazon is cutting hundreds of jobs in its cloud computing unit AWS

[mahatmakanejeeves]

Source: The Associated Press, via WTOP

Amazon is cutting hundreds of jobs in its cloud computing unit AWS
The Associated Press

April 3, 2024, 12:04 PM

Amazon said Wednesday it’s cutting hundreds of jobs in its cloud computing unit AWS as part of a strategic shift. ... The company will trim “a few hundred roles” in the team that overlooks technology for physical stores, a move that comes just a day after Amazon said it was ditching Just Walk Out technology in its U.S. grocery stores.

In addition to the physical stores technology team, Amazon said it’s cutting “several hundred roles” in the AWS sales, marketing and global service organization. Most of those cuts are related to business changes in AWS training and certification programs as well as sales operations. The tech giant said it was also making cuts elsewhere so it can invest in other business priorities.

“These decisions are difficult but necessary as we continue to invest, hire, and optimize resources to deliver innovation for our customers,” Amazon spokesperson Duncan Neasham said in a statement.

The AWS layoffs follow other layoffs that happened at Amazon and its subsidiaries this year. In January, the company cut several hundred positions across its Prime Video and MGM Studios unit. That same month, Twitch, the popular social media platform owned by Amazon, laid off more than 500 jobs in a bid to save on costs. The online audiobook and podcast service Audible also laid off about 5% of its workforce.

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Read more: https://wtop.com/business-finance/2024/04/amazon-is-cutting-hundreds-of-jobs-in-its-cloud-computing-unit-aws/

[Ursus Rex]

1. Everyone who works in automation always think they're going to be OK ...

... and then, suddenly, your position was automated. I'm not sure that's precisely the case here, but the whole promise of The Cloud is that you (business owner) won't have to worry about maintaining all that expensive tech, but reduction via automation and moving things off-premises is a pretty vicious cycle that moves faster the better you get at it.

[getagrip_already]

2. AI will takes its bite

That is likely beginning to happen already. A lot of roles, especially support and operations, are repetitive knowledge work an ai could easily provide.

Data centers have pretty much wrung all the blood out of the stone they are going to get from an automation standpoint. Most are already lights out.

[SouthernDem4ever]

4. Seems like any job not tied to a physical activity has no job security

They treat you like a piece of furniture. Pick ya up, move you here, move you there, throw you out. Can we get someone in a third world country do it cheaper? Great. Oh it's not very good for national security? Who cares, we are making more money.

[LiberalFighter]

3. Eliminate all the jobs there?