The concerns were expressed in an internal open letter addressed to CEO Andy Jassy and senior leadership, urging the tech giant to adopt a more responsible and transparent rollout of AI systems.
The letter — titled “Join 1,000+ Amazon employees & 2,000+ solidarity signers demanding a responsible rollout of AI” — was organised by the advocacy group Amazon Employees for Climate Justice (AECJ). So far, it has received signatures from 1,039 Amazon employees and more than 2,436 external supporters, including senior engineers, scientists, designers, logistics staff, and marketing professionals. They warn that Amazon’s current “at all costs” AI strategy prioritises profit and automation over ethics, sustainability, and human well-being.
Fears Over Democracy, Climate and Jobs
The signatories caution that the rapid deployment of AI has the potential to undermine democratic systems, accelerate the climate crisis, and wipe out jobs through large-scale automation.
“We have serious concerns about this aggressive rollout during the global rise of authoritarianism and our most important years to reverse the climate crisis,” the letter states.
Employees are demanding:
Ethical AI working groups that include non-managerial workers
Transparency on how AI systems affect workloads, career growth, and working conditions
AI Expansion Linked to Job Cuts
The letter follows a turbulent phase for Amazon, which has reportedly eliminated around 14,000 jobs as part of cost-cutting and automation initiatives. CEO Andy Jassy has positioned AI as the company’s future, stating that new “AI agents” will enhance efficiency and reduce reliance on existing workforce roles — a message that has intensified employee fears of widespread job displacement.
Climate Impact and Data Centre Concerns
Environmental risks form another pillar of the employees’ protest. Despite Amazon’s pledge to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2040, its annual emissions have risen 35% since 2019.
The letter accuses Amazon of deprioritizing climate commitments to build AI, pointing to its $150 billion data-centre expansion plan, which reportedly includes facilities in drought-prone regions and fossil-fuel-reliant power grids.
Workers further claim that Amazon has opposed clean-energy regulations for data centres and that AWS continues supplying AI tools to oil and gas companies, boosting their drilling capabilities.
A Call for Broader Accountability
Through this open letter, employees say they want to begin a global conversation on the social and environmental consequences of unchecked AI development. They emphasize that AI should enhance human life rather than harm society:
“We want the promised gains from AI to give everyone more freedom to create, rest, and feel safe — not push us toward a future where only a few benefit.”