Employees say Amazon’s AI competition threatens democracy, workforce and environment

Thousands of Amazon employees have signed an open letter warning that the company’s rapid transition to artificial intelligence could harm workers, democracy, and the environment. The signatories accuse Amazon of prioritizing investments in AI over tackling climate change and human resources. Participants include software engineers and employees who work directly with AI systems. “A cost-justified, warp-speed approach to AI development would do staggering damage to our democracy, our jobs, and our planet,” the authors wrote, adding, “We have a responsibility to intervene because we are the workers who develop, train, and use AI.”

Workers cite climate, labor and surveillance concerns

The letter, reportedly signed anonymously, was released nearly a month after Amazon announced mass layoffs related to the company’s expansion of AI. Signatories include engineers, product managers, and warehouse staff. Employees claim Amazon is abandoning its climate change commitments to accelerate AI development. The company has pledged to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2040, citing measures such as electric delivery vehicles and reducing plastic packaging, but the letter argues that the AI ​​race will undermine these goals.

An open letter to CEO Andy Jassy and the S Team outlines concerns about AI deployment amid the pressures of geopolitical instability and climate change. Amazon plans to spend $150 billion on new data centers, including some in drought-prone and fossil fuel-dependent regions, claiming it is “abandoning climate goals to build AI” because of rising emissions since 2019. Amazon also argues that it opposes clean energy regulations and continues to provide services to oil and gas companies.

Employees also say Amazon is pushing AI tools internally while also hinting at future job cuts. They cite higher workloads, mandatory AI use cases, and limited career investment, along with impacts on logistics workers such as injuries and burnout. The letter raises concerns about Amazon’s stance on the National Labor Relations Board.

The authors further argue that Amazon is contributing to a more militarized surveillance ecosystem through lobbying, collaboration with autonomous weapons software companies, and cloud services used by government agencies. They cite developments related to the ring, workplace surveillance, and Jeff Bezos’ ownership of the Washington Post.

The workers are demanding leadership commitments that include ensuring AI is powered by clean energy, establishing a worker-led ethical AI group to influence implementation and workforce decisions, and ending the use of technology for surveillance, violence, and mass deportation. They argue that the benefits of AI should improve quality of life, not increase power.

The letter concludes by saying that employees have led the company toward better practices and urging Amazon to make environmentally and socially responsible choices.

This letter is supported by 1,039 Amazon employees (and counting) and 2,436 outsiders (and counting).