Amazon has sparked fresh anxiety among its workforce after an internal email revealing a new round of global job cuts was sent in error to employees at its cloud computing division, Amazon Web Services (AWS). The message, which circulated internally on Tuesday, suggested that layoffs were imminent and that affected employees in the United States, Canada and Costa Rica had already been informed — a claim later found to be incorrect.
The email appeared as part of a meeting invitation sent to AWS staff and was later cancelled. It contained what looked like a draft internal communication outlining planned job cuts under a project code-named “Project Dawn.” The message was signed by Colleen Aubrey, a senior vice president overseeing applied AI solutions at AWS.
“Changes like this are hard on everyone,” Aubrey wrote in the email. “These decisions are difficult and are made thoughtfully as we position our organisation and AWS for future success.”
The email also referred to a separate message from Amazon’s head of human resources that, according to reports, was never sent, adding to confusion among staff. Screenshots of the message quickly circulated on internal forums and social media platforms, intensifying speculation over further layoffs.
Amazon has not officially confirmed a second round of job cuts, but the incident comes against a backdrop of continued workforce reductions. In October, the company announced plans to cut 14,000 corporate roles as part of efforts to reverse a pandemic-era hiring surge and rein in costs. Several media outlets have since reported that Amazon was preparing additional reductions, particularly within AWS and its core retail operations.
The company employs roughly 1.5 million people worldwide, the majority of whom work in logistics and warehouses. Corporate and technical roles form a much smaller share, but they have been the primary focus of recent cuts. Andy Jassy, Amazon’s chief executive, has previously warned employees that artificial intelligence would reshape white-collar work, potentially reducing the need for some roles over time.
Amazon did not immediately respond to requests for comment following the email incident.
The news surfaced as job cuts ripple across the wider logistics and technology sectors. United Parcel Service said it plans to eliminate up to 30,000 jobs in 2026, building on reductions announced last year. UPS has been cutting back on low-margin deliveries linked to Amazon, its largest customer and an increasingly direct competitor. The company has previously described its Amazon business as “extraordinarily dilutive” to profit margins.
While Amazon insists it is carefully managing change, the accidental release of the internal message has highlighted the uncertainty facing tech workers as companies streamline operations, automate processes, and realign around AI-driven strategies.
