Amazon Employees Demand Halt on Rapid AI Expansion

New Delhi, November 29, 2025: A powerful open letter, signed by over 1,000 Amazon employees, has been sent to CEO Andy Jassy and the company’s leadership, raising “serious concerns” about the aggressive and fast-paced deployment of Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools. The workers, who include engineers, product managers, and warehouse staff, argue that Amazon’s “all-costs-justified” approach to AI threatens not only jobs but also the planet and democracy.

The letter, organized by the activist group Amazon Employees for Climate Justice (AECJ), comes amid a turbulent year for Amazon, marked by recent mass layoffs and a clear corporate pivot toward greater AI integration. Over 2,400 external supporters from other major tech companies like Google and Apple have also backed the demands.

The Core Concerns: Climate and Job Security

The employees’ concerns are centered on two major issues: the environment and the workforce.

1. The Climate Crisis vs. Data Centers

The activists accuse Amazon of “casting aside its climate goals to build AI.” The training and operation of advanced AI systems require massive, power-hungry data centers. Despite Amazon’s public commitment to reach net-zero carbon emissions by 2040, the letter points out that the company’s annual emissions have grown roughly 35% since 2019.

Workers warn that Amazon’s planned $150 billion investment in new data centers will often be in regions that rely heavily on fossil fuels, potentially forcing utility companies to keep coal plants running or build new gas plants. They demand a public plan to power all data centers with 100% additional, local renewable energy, 24/7.

2. AI and the Threat to Jobs

Following corporate layoffs, employees feel pressure to use new AI tools for everything from coding to writing, with the unspoken threat of falling behind or being replaced. CEO Andy Jassy has previously stated that the future Amazon will employ fewer humans, which has only deepened fears among the workforce.

The letter highlights the on-the-ground reality of increased output expectations and shorter deadlines, with some engineers describing the output from mandatory AI tools as “slop.” Warehouse workers, in particular, have experienced the impact of increased surveillance and work speedups tied to automated metrics.

Key Demands from the Workforce

The open letter is not a call to stop AI entirely, but rather to develop it responsibly. The signatories demand that Amazon leadership commit to three key changes:

• No AI with Dirty Energy: Stop using carbon-emitting energy sources for AI data centers and end custom AI solutions for oil and gas companies.
• No AI without Employee Voices: Establish ethical AI working groups made up of non-managerial staff with real influence over AI use, layoffs, and work conditions.
• No AI for Violence or Surveillance: Prohibit the use of Amazon’s AI products and services for harmful purposes like surveillance, drone warfare, or mass deportation.

Company’s Response and The Bigger Picture

In response to the concerns, an Amazon spokesperson has stated that the company “disagrees” with the claims but remains committed to reaching net-zero emissions by 2040. They acknowledged that progress will not always be linear but emphasized a focus on serving customers “better, faster, and with fewer emissions.”

This open letter is part of a broader wave of tech-worker activism, which has recently included global Black Friday strikes by logistics workers demanding better pay and conditions. The action from Amazon’s corporate and logistics employees signals a growing, unified movement demanding that the human and environmental costs of the AI race be addressed before profits.

The debate at Amazon underscores a critical question facing the entire technology industry: How can companies rapidly advance powerful AI tools while ensuring sustainability, human welfare, and ethical governance? The employees’ letter serves as a stark warning to both the company and the public that the current “warp-speed” path is unsustainable.