Andy Jassy is the perfect Amazon CEO in the Gen AI era

“People who embrace this change, are familiar with AI, build and improve AI capabilities internally, and provide them to their customers will be positioned well to have a high impact and help them reform the company.” He wrote in a company-wide email. This was also featured on Amazon’s corporate blog.

But no matter how nerdy Amazon employees get over the new AI tools, Jassy noted that there is no space on the bus for everyone.

When I read this note – And I recommend reading everything – A few questions came to mind immediately. Does some of Amazon’s vast organizations have a very resistant to new technology and perhaps in Jassy’s view it requires a public nudge (or kicking the butt)? It seems likely. Is a public memo a wink wink to Wall Street? Will the company’s significant AI investment be rewarded by providing substantial cost savings in the end? perhaps.

Is this memo intended to provide a shiny AI cover for any imminent or future mass layoffs that may actually have something to do with eating some corporate tasks, or simply something? I think that’s possible, but I don’t think it’s possible.

And it’s part of the essay where Jassy systematically outlines the various ways Amazon already uses Gen AI (The ceremony he performed on multiple occasions this year), is designed to push Amazon into an AI-dominated news cycle. perhaps.

Regardless of the exact goal or driving force, Amazon hasn’t said exactly what driving force this public memo is, but Jussy looks like the right leader in his current job.

I don’t intend to discount Jassy’s ability to lead in innovation. He ended up transforming Amazon Web Services from the early stages into today’s huge cloud provider.

However, since taking over as CEO of Jeff Bezos in 2021, Jussy has also become the company’s main cost cutter, making him look comfortable in the role.

He has overseen the largest corporate layoffs in the company’s history in recent years ( Meta, alphabetand Salesforce All of this has been cut staffing after overemployed during the pandemic).

His logistics team has re-aligned US warehouse networks and inventory systems to reduce the cost of delivering each product to customers.

He also urged the team to accelerate the automation of some warehouse tasks.

Some of these moves were necessary by handing over the bulging, sometimes wasted company to Jussy when the CEO transition took place almost four years ago. However, to this close observer of the company, Jassy appears to be very comfortable with the role. I don’t know if he enjoys it or simply accepts it.

So whether Amazon’s AI Jobs Shakeout turns out to be painful reductions, progressive readjustment, or something completely, recent history seems to suggest that the company has nothing else right.