New leaked documents about Amazon’s automation plans reveal that the company is preparing for an unprecedented shift in its workforce. According to internal documents reviewed by The New York Times, Amazon is pursuing an aggressive automation strategy to avoid the need for more than half a million future hires.

What do Amazon’s automation plans entail?

Leaked reports indicate that Amazon’s robotics department’s ultimate goal is to automate 75 percent of all operations. The company expects to double its product sales by 2033. However, instead of hiring the 600,000 new employees that would normally be needed to meet this demand, it plans to implement robotic systems.

The documents reveal that Amazon would realize significant savings if it hired 160,000 fewer employees by 2027 alone. This strategy would allow the company to save 30 cents on every product it packs and delivers to customers in the US. Amazon has been steadily expanding its robot fleet since introducing its first fully autonomous mobile robot in 2022 and recently announced the deployment of its 1 millionth robot.

Reports claim that Amazon is also planning for potential societal backlash from automation. The company is reportedly recommending avoiding terms like “automation” or “artificial intelligence” in favor of softer terms like “advanced technology.” Amazon, in a statement to the NYT, stated that these documents were incomplete and did not reflect its overall hiring strategy. It also stated that it plans to hire 250,000 people for the upcoming holiday season, but has not disclosed how many of them will be permanent.

So, what are your thoughts on Amazon’s automation efforts? Share your thoughts with us in the comments!