More than 1,000 Amazon employees have signed an open letter warning against the impact of the company's strong AI push, claiming that the company’s “all-costs justified, warp speed” approach to AI implementation will cause damage to “democracy, to our jobs, and to the earth.”
The letter, which was backed by 2,400 workers across other tech firms including Google, Alphabet, Microsoft, and Meta, calls for clean-energy data centers, safeguards against harmful AI uses, and greater worker input on AI-related decisions.
Employees also say in the letter that Amazon’s emphasis on AI-driven productivity has created unrealistic expectations and heightened job insecurity, with one employee telling The Guardian that the company was “using AI as justification to push myself and my colleagues to work longer hours and push out more projects on tighter deadlines.”
In other news about disgruntled Amazon employees…
Amazon workers in 30 countries launched their sixth annual “Make Amazon Pay” protests on Black Friday, targeting heat conditions in warehouses, aggressive productivity pressure, AI-driven data center expansion, and the company’s work with immigration authorities.
In India, surveys cited by unions found widespread heat-related health issues, while actions in Europe and North America focused on unionization, recent layoffs and alleged retaliation against organizing efforts.
Christy Hoffman, general secretary of UNI Global Union, told Business Insider:
“Amazon, Jeff Bezos, and their political allies are betting on a techno-authoritarian future, but this Make Amazon Pay Day, workers everywhere are saying: enough. For years, Amazon has squashed workers' right to democracy on the job through a union and the backing of authoritarian political figures.”
David Adler, co-general coordinator of the Progressive International, said in a statement:
“Amazon is no longer just a retailer — it is a pillar of a new authoritarian order built on surveillance and exploitation. From ICE raids to the repression of Palestinians, Amazon's technologies are woven into systems of violence worldwide.”
In response to the demonstrations, Amazon said that it provides “great pay, great benefits, and great opportunities” and that the company provides a “modern, safe, and engaging workplace whether you work in an office or at one of our operations buildings.”