Amazon Is Hiring Robots While Cutting Human Jobs
Amazon, America’s second-biggest private employer, is deploying robots at a rapid pace.
Over the past five years, the number of robot workers has increased from 265,000 to one million, far outpacing hiring growth. Overall, the company reports that three-quarters of global deliveries are aided by robotics, from lifting and loading to sorting packages.
This graphic compares the size of Amazon’s robot fleet with its human workforce, based on data from Ark Invest via Jason Calacanis and Yahoo Finance.
Amazon Robots Hit One Million
Below, we show the global number of robots deployed at Amazon since 2013:
| Year | Number of Robots | Number of Employees |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 1,000,000 | 1,556,000 |
| 2024 | 750,000 | 1,525,000 |
| 2023 | 750,000 | 1,541,000 |
| 2022 | 520,000 | 1,608,000 |
| 2021 | 350,000 | 1,298,000 |
| 2020 | 265,000 | 798,000 |
| 2019 | 200,000 | 648,000 |
| 2018 | 140,000 | 566,000 |
| 2017 | 100,000 | 341,000 |
| 2016 | 45,000 | 231,000 |
| 2015 | 30,000 | 154,000 |
| 2014 | 15,000 | 117,000 |
| 2013 | 1,000 | 88,000 |
Between 2024 and 2025, the number of robots in Amazon facilities grew by 250,000 alone, with many picking up items from shelves or ferrying goods for packaging.
Some robots have electronic arms, utilizing computer vision to complete tasks. Using a new generative AI model called DeepFleet, robot travel time has dropped by 10%, further boosting efficiency.
Amazon is also reportedly testing humanoid robots in San Francisco for doorstep delivery.
Last year, Amazon CEO Andy Jassy stated that the company would need fewer employees given automation and advancements in AI. While some employees have transitioned into higher-paying roles to manage robotic systems, many others could face a more uncertain future.
Amazon Announces Sweeping Corporate Layoffs
In January 2026, Amazon shed 16,000 corporate employees, tacking on to the 14,000 laid off in October last year.
Together, these represent the company’s biggest wave of corporate layoffs. During the pandemic, employee headcount swelled as deliveries boomed. Now, Amazon says it’s cutting back to reduce bureaucracy and streamline operations.
While the company did not cite AI as a reason behind these cuts, it is spending billions on AI infrastructure, from data centers to custom chips, an investment that often comes with pressure to cut costs elsewhere.