Over 1,000 Amazon employees are raising red flags about the company’s breakneck AI rollout.
Why the concern? They say Amazon’s “warp-speed” approach is not just reshaping jobs—it’s straining the planet.
In an open letter, staffers warn that AI is being pushed at “all costs,” threatening democracy, workplace fairness, and the environment.
Engineers, warehouse associates, and product managers are all speaking out.
More than 2,400 workers from Meta, Google, Apple, and Microsoft are backing the letter.
The demands are clear: power data centers with clean energy and ensure AI tools don’t enable surveillance or violence.
Workers should have real input over AI use, layoffs, and environmental impacts.
“I signed because AI is being used as a code word for more pressure, longer hours, and higher quotas,” said a senior software engineer, speaking anonymously.
Amazon AI Impact
The climate angle is striking. Amazon’s AI boom requires massive new data centers, driving energy consumption and emissions.
The company plans to spend $150bn on centers over the next 15 years.
“They are investing in fossil-fuel-hungry infrastructure while claiming to fight climate change,” said a customer researcher.
Amazon pushed back, highlighting renewable energy projects and efficiency gains.
But workers say the culture is one of fear, with AI tools used to speed up work while threatening layoffs.
So, is AI a miracle for productivity—or a high-stakes gamble on workers and the planet?
At Amazon, staff are insisting it shouldn’t have to be either—or both.
