Amazon Mega Move: 600,000 US Workers to be Replaced by Robots by 2027?
Amazon is preparing a sweeping expansion of automation across its US operations, aiming to replace as many as 600,000 workers with robots by 2033, according to leaked internal documents and reports. The company’s robotics division intends to automate about 75 per cent of its operational processes, potentially eliminating the need to hire more than half a million new employees in the United States over the next several years. By 2027, Amazon could avoid hiring approximately 160,000 workers, primarily through replacing human roles in warehouse operations such as picking, packing, and sorting items.
This massive automation initiative is projected to save Amazon an estimated $12.6 billion between 2025 and 2027, with further cost efficiencies expected as robots handle repetitive tasks more quickly and safely. Advanced robotics systems like “Proteus” and “Sequoia” are at the forefront of this transition; these AI-powered machines can navigate busy warehouses independently using sensors and cameras, efficiently moving products without human intervention. Amazon is also exploring autonomous delivery vans and drone-based logistics solutions to complement its warehouse automation.
Amazon justifies this shift by emphasising that automation will “free employees from repetitive tasks” and create new technical opportunities in areas such as robot maintenance, software engineering, and system management. However, the news has sparked concern among many workers who fear gradual displacement, as robots become faster and cheaper labour. The company has reportedly considered messaging strategies to soften public backlash by using terms like “advanced technology” or “cobot”—robots designed to collaborate with humans—rather than “robots” or “automation” itself.
Despite the automation push, Amazon maintains it will continue hiring, especially seasonal workers for peak periods. Its US workforce has expanded rapidly since 2018, reaching around 1.2 million employees, and the company plans to hire over 250,000 workers for the upcoming holiday season. Still, this robotics-driven transformation marks a dramatic shift for Amazon, from being one of America’s largest job creators to a company that might soon replace a substantial share of human positions with machines.
Amazon’s bold move highlights the ongoing tension between technological innovation and employment in the modern economy. It underscores the need for workforce reskilling and industry adaptation as automation reshapes logistics and retail sectors globally. The coming years will be critical for balancing productivity gains with social and economic impacts on workers.
