Advances in AI (artificial intelligence) continue to impact how we research, manufacture, write, communicate, interact with customers, clients, and patients — the list goes on — on an increasing scale, as new efficiencies continue to lead the transition to AI-driven workflows, which in turn leads to potentially substantial workforce reductions in a growing number of fields.
Now, an in-depth report by The New York Times has revealed that Amazon plans to aggressively increase its reliance on robotic automation, which, according to internal documents and corporate interviews, could lead to the replacement of some 600,000 jobs with robots.
Amazon’s internal plans suggest the company’s cost-cutting measures could potentially reduce prices for customers. According to the internal documents, executives told the Amazon board they plan to rely more heavily on robotic automation —even as the company projects its sales will double by 2033.
Incidentally, last evening I hopped on Amazon Prime to check prices on a couple of items I needed (wanted), and just like that, they were at my door by 5:30 this morning — free delivery, of course. The point is, it's hard to beat Amazon's prices and speedy delivery, already, so I'm curious to see how this whole thing plays out.
Here's more, via The NYTimes:
At facilities designed for superfast deliveries, Amazon is trying to create warehouses that employ few humans at all. And documents show that Amazon’s robotics team has an ultimate goal to automate 75 percent of its operations.
Amazon is so convinced this automated future is around the corner that it has started developing plans to mitigate the fallout in communities that may lose jobs. Documents show the company has considered building an image as a “good corporate citizen” through greater participation in community events such as parades and Toys for Tots.
The documents contemplate avoiding using terms like “automation” and “A.I.” when discussing robotics, and instead use terms like “advanced technology” or replace the word “robot” with “cobot,” which implies collaboration with humans.
"Cobots." How cute. And I'm not sure how participation in community events, parades, and Toys for Tots would mollify communities in which Amazon is the major employer if (when) jobs are lost to "cobots," cute name aside.
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According to a document received by The Verge, Amazon spokesperson Kelly Nantel was quoted as saying, "Leaked documents often paint an incomplete and misleading picture of our plans, and that's the case here."
Is it? Nantel continued:
Thousands of documents circulate throughout the company at any given time, each with varying degrees of accuracy and timeliness. We're actively hiring at operations facilities across the country and recently announced plans to fill 250,000 positions for the holiday season.
Varying degrees of accuracy and timeliness aside, the internal documents and interviews previously mentioned suggest that a plan as specific as replacing as many as 600,000 employees with robotic automation — regardless of whatever Amazon decides to call it, with hopes that avoiding terms like "robot" will make it easier to swallow — is a pretty big deal.
Moreover, I'll go out on a limb and suggest that part-time hires during the holidays won't soften the blow for Amazon employees who may be inclined to worry about the news.
Oh, and Amazon employs approximately 1.1 million workers in the United States, representing about 70 percent of its global workforce, according to Red Stag Fulfillment.
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