Amazon cuts 250 jobs in devices unit after flurry of new product launches

# Amazon Cuts 250 Jobs in Devices Unit Following Series of Product Launches

Amazon has eliminated approximately 250 positions in its devices and services division as the company works to improve operational efficiency and align staffing with its product priorities. The job cuts, announced Wednesday, primarily affect software development roles and come after several weeks of hardware launches.

A company spokesperson confirmed the reductions, saying Amazon had made the difficult decision to eliminate a small number of positions. The spokesperson added that the changes were intended to help the company operate more efficiently and better match its workforce to its product roadmap.

## Layoffs Follow New Hardware Launches

The job cuts come after Amazon introduced several new consumer devices, including Kindle e-readers and tablet computers. On Wednesday, the company also unveiled a new alarm clock and photo frame powered by its Alexa voice assistant.

In an internal message to employees, Cherie Robinson, a human resources vice president in Amazon’s devices and services division, said a comprehensive review of the unit’s organizational structure had led to the decision to reduce staffing. Employees were informed of the cuts through text messages and emails early Wednesday.

Amazon has not disclosed how the latest layoffs will affect specific products or future development plans.

The reductions follow another round of job cuts earlier in October, when the company eliminated approximately 1,000 positions in its core retail division. The latest move adds to Amazon’s ongoing efforts to review its workforce and adjust its organizational structure.

## Amazon Reports Strong Financial Growth

Despite the workforce reductions, Amazon has continued to report growth across its major business operations. The company is scheduled to release its third-quarter financial results after the US stock market closes Thursday, with investors expected to examine performance across its retail, cloud computing and other business segments.

For the second quarter ended June 30, 2026, Amazon reported net sales of $200.6 billion, a 20% increase from $167.7 billion in the same period a year earlier. Operating income rose to $27.5 billion from $19.2 billion.

Operating cash flow for the trailing 12 months increased 33% to $161.4 billion, compared with $121.1 billion for the 12 months ended June 30, 2025.

The company continues to invest in consumer hardware and digital services as it develops an ecosystem of connected products and services.

## AI and Cloud Computing Remain Key Priorities

Amazon has also highlighted momentum in its cloud and artificial intelligence businesses. In its second-quarter earnings announcement, President and CEO Andy Jassy said Amazon Web Services grew 36.7% year over year, marking its fastest growth in 18 quarters. He also said the company’s AI and chip businesses each surpassed annualized revenue run rates of $25 billion.

Amazon’s second-quarter earnings release also highlighted the addition of more than 10 fully managed foundation models to Amazon Bedrock. The models listed included OpenAI’s GPT-5.6, Anthropic’s Claude Opus 5, Google DeepMind’s Gemma 4 and SpaceXAI’s Grok 4.3.

The latest devices-unit layoffs underscore Amazon’s continued review of staffing and operational priorities even as it expands its consumer hardware portfolio and invests in cloud computing and AI. The company has not provided further details about how the changes will influence its future device strategy.