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

Thousands of Amazon employees have signed an open letter warning that the company’s rapid shift toward artificial intelligence could harm workers, democracy and the environment. The signatories accuse Amazon of prioritising AI investments over its climate commitments and human workforce. Participants include software engineers and employees who work directly on AI systems. The authors wrote that “the all-costs-justified, warp-speed approach to AI development will do staggering damage to democracy, to our jobs, and to the earth,” adding, “We’re the workers who develop, train, and use AI, so we have a responsibility to intervene.”

Workers cite climate, labour and surveillance concerns

The letter, reportedly signed anonymously, was released nearly a month after Amazon announced mass layoffs linked to the company’s increased adoption of AI. Signatories include engineers, product managers and warehouse associates. The employees argue that Amazon is abandoning its climate pledges in a bid to accelerate AI development. While the company has committed to achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2040, citing measures such as electric delivery vehicles and reduced plastic packaging, the letter claims the AI race undermines these goals.


The open letter to CEO Andy Jassy and the S-team outlines concerns about AI rollout amid geopolitical instability and climate pressures. It claims Amazon is “casting aside its climate goals to build AI,” citing rising emissions since 2019 and plans to spend $150 billion on new data centres, some in drought-prone areas or regions reliant on fossil fuels. It also alleges Amazon has opposed clean-energy regulations and continues to provide services to oil and gas companies.

Employees also state that Amazon is pushing AI tools internally while signalling future reductions in human staff. They reference higher workloads, mandated 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 toward the National Labor Relations Board.

The authors further argue that Amazon is contributing to a more militarised surveillance ecosystem through lobbying efforts, collaborations with autonomous weapons software firms, and cloud services used by government agencies. They cite developments related to Ring, workplace monitoring and Jeff Bezos’ ownership influence over The Washington Post.

The employees call for commitments from leadership, including ensuring AI is powered by clean energy, establishing worker-led ethical AI groups with influence over deployment and workforce decisions, and ceasing involvement in technologies for surveillance, violence or mass deportation. They argue that AI’s benefits should enhance quality of life rather than consolidate power.

The letter concludes by urging Amazon to make choices that uphold environmental and social responsibility, stating that workers have previously guided the company toward better practices.

The letter is supported by 1,039 Amazon employees (and counting) and 2,436 people outside the company (and counting).