Report: Amazon targets 75% automation, could avoid 600k hires by 2033

A new report indicates that Amazon is preparing for an era of unprecedented automation across its logistics network. Based on internal documents and interviews cited by The New York Times (as summarized by Engadget), Amazon executives expect to double product sales by 2033 and, by scaling robotics, potentially avoid roughly 600,000 hires that would otherwise be needed to meet demand.

The documents reportedly describe a long-term objective to automate ~75% of operations. Nearer-term goals include making 160,000 fewer hires by 2027, which internal models suggest could save about $0.30 per package packed and delivered in the US. Amazon recently marked deployment of its 1,000,000th warehouse robot, expanding a fleet it has built out since unveiling its first fully autonomous mobile robot in 2022.

• 2033 outlook: Double sales while using robotics to offset headcount growth (up to ~600k avoided hires).
• 2027 waypoint: Targeting ~160k fewer hires with an estimated ~$0.30 per-package cost reduction.
• Automation scope: Ambition to automate ~75% of warehouse and fulfillment operations.
• Robotics milestone: Over 1 million robots now active across Amazon facilities.

Messaging and community impact

The report says internal comms advise avoiding loaded terms like “automation” and “AI,” preferring phrases such as “advanced technology” and even “cobot” to emphasize human–robot collaboration. It also suggests Amazon is attempting to build goodwill in communities likely to be affected by increased automation.

Amazon’s response

Amazon told the NYT that the cited plans are incomplete and not reflective of its overall hiring strategy. The company denied that community outreach is tied to automation or that leadership is directed to avoid specific terms. Amazon also said it plans to hire 250,000 people for the upcoming holiday season, without clarifying how many will be permanent roles.

Why it matters

• Labor and local economies: Large-scale automation could reduce future hiring needs, with knock-on effects for warehouse jobs and surrounding communities.
• Costs and competitiveness: Per-package savings at Amazon’s scale could reshape pricing pressures across the logistics and retail sectors.
• Human–robot workflows: Framing automation as collaboration (“cobots”) underscores a trend toward mixed teams rather than fully autonomous facilities—at least in the near term.

What to watch next

• Policy and regulation: Potential scrutiny from labor agencies and lawmakers regarding workforce impacts and retraining.
• Hiring data: Seasonal vs. permanent headcount disclosures as automation scales.
• Tech rollout: Expansion of fully autonomous mobile robots and computer vision systems across more sites.

References:
Engadget: Report on Amazon’s automation plans ·
Amazon Robotics (company overview)

Discussion: Do you view large-scale warehouse automation as a net positive for efficiency and safety—or a long-term risk to local jobs and wages?