For more than a decade, robots have quietly revolutionized Amazon’s warehouses sorting, stacking, and transporting goods with machine precision. Now, according to The New York Times, Amazon plans to take its automation strategy to an entirely new level, replacing as many as 600,000 human jobs with robots by 2033.
Amazon has long positioned itself as a pioneer of technological efficiency, and its warehouses are a testament to that evolution. What began as a gradual introduction of robotic helpers has now turned into a sweeping transformation. The company has already deployed over 1 million robots in its fulfillment and delivery network, a figure that now equals about two-thirds of its human workforce.
According to internal Amazon documents obtained by The New York Times, the company aims to automate 75% of its warehouse operations. While the documents stop short of confirming mass layoffs, the projections suggest a gradual reduction in hiring as robots take over manual labor tasks. In practical terms, this means that Amazon could avoid hiring 600,000 new human workers over the next decade effectively letting robots fill that gap.
The financial incentives are clear. A Morgan Stanley analysis cited by CNBC estimates Amazon could save as much as $4 billion annually by 2027 through increased automation. Robots not only operate around the clock but also reduce costs associated with injuries, overtime, and turnover, all major challenges in Amazon’s massive logistics network.
However, internal discussions reportedly reveal the company’s awareness of potential community backlash. To offset criticism over job losses, Amazon has explored strategies to enhance its image as a “good corporate citizen.” Plans include increased participation in local events such as parades and Toys for Tots drives, and subtle shifts in messaging replacing words like automation or AI with softer alternatives like “advanced technology” and “cobots,” implying collaboration rather than replacement.
In response to the report, an Amazon spokesperson downplayed the claims: “Leaked documents often paint an incomplete and misleading picture of our plans, and that’s the case here,” the company said in an email to CNET. “These materials reflect the perspective of just one team and don’t represent our overall hiring strategy.”
The spokesperson also defended Amazon’s employment record, noting: “No company has created more jobs in America over the past decade than Amazon,”
adding that the company is actively hiring for 250,000 seasonal roles during the holiday rush.
As of 2025, Amazon ranks as the third-largest employer in the United States, behind only the federal government and Walmart, with roughly 1.5 million employees most in warehouses and delivery. If the automation projections come true, the reduction would be equivalent to eliminating an entire FedEx-sized workforce (FedEx employs around 550,000 people).
The broader implications for U.S. labor are significant. Studies have shown that each new robot introduced per 1,000 workers reduces wages by 0.42% and displaces roughly 400,000 jobs nationwide (as of 2020). These statistics highlight a growing tension between technological progress and the economic security of human workers.
Despite this, Amazon insists that automation will not simply erase jobs but transform them.
“Our investments will continue to create substantial employment, emphasizing higher-paying positions,” the company stated. “Efficiency gains in one area enable us to invest in others — both existing and entirely new ones creating additional value for customers.”