Amazon has confirmed that it is laying off 100 employees from its Devices and Services division in a strategic move aimed at streamlining operations and improving team efficiency. The affected units include some of Amazon’s most recognizable brands such as the Alexa voice assistant, Echo smart speakers, Ring video doorbells, and Zoox, the company’s autonomous vehicle initiative.
The announcement was made by Amazon spokesperson Kristy Schmidt, who explained that the decision is part of a broader strategy to better align team structures with the company’s evolving product roadmap. While specific teams impacted by the layoffs were not identified, the company emphasized that hiring is still ongoing for critical roles within the same division.
“As part of our ongoing work to make our teams and programs operate more efficiently, and to better align with our product roadmap, we've made the difficult decision to eliminate a small number of roles,” Schmidt stated. “We don’t make these decisions lightly, and we’re committed to supporting affected employees through their transitions.”
This move is part of Amazon CEO Andy Jassy’s ongoing initiative to simplify internal structures, reduce management layers, and cut operating costs. The company has been undergoing significant changes across multiple departments since 2022, marking the largest workforce reduction in its history. Amazon aims to eliminate up to 27,000 positions by 2025.
Earlier this year, Amazon introduced a major overhaul of its Alexa virtual assistant, rolling out "Alexa Plus," an AI-enhanced version with generative capabilities. This upgrade is intended to make Alexa more conversational and intelligent, offering features such as task automation, content summarization, and personalized assistance. However, despite the innovation, job cuts in the Alexa team have continued in what Amazon calls an alignment of priorities toward long-term tech investments.
Amazon has also been trimming staff in its Wondery podcast unit, retail stores, and corporate communications teams. Despite these layoffs, Amazon’s latest quarterly report shows a net increase of around 4,000 roles between Q4 2023 and Q1 2024, indicating ongoing expansion in other business areas.
The restructuring signals Amazon’s focus on efficiency and future-readiness in a fast-evolving tech environment. While devices like Echo and services such as Zoox remain integral to the company’s ecosystem, the shift reflects Amazon’s move toward smarter, AI-integrated platforms and leaner operational structures. As tech companies globally continue to navigate inflation, regulatory scrutiny, and AI-driven market shifts, Amazon's actions illustrate a broader industry trend of selective investment and restructuring to maintain innovation while managing costs.
