Amazon’s growing obsession with artificial intelligence has sparked a wave of resistance, not from regulators, but from within its own workforce. More than a thousand Amazon employees have signed an open letter to CEO Andy Jassy, ​​urging him to slow the company’s “warp-speed” AI expansion, which they argue is fueling environmental damage, endangering jobs and endangering democracy. The letter, organized by Amazon Employees for Climate Justice (AECJ), comes as the tech giant is doubling down on its AI ambitions, planning to spend $150 billion on new data centers and equipment across its business. But workers say the race for profits and innovation is coming at a high cost.

Amazon employees urge CEO Andy Jassy to slow down AI push: The story in 5 points

Employees accuse Amazon of recklessly promoting AI

In an open letter addressed to Jassi, the workers warned that Amazon’s “all-costs-justified” approach to AI “could cause enormous harm to democracy, our jobs, and the planet.” He said that although AI could be transformative, Amazon’s current trajectory prioritizes speed and market dominance over security and ethics. “We, the Amazon employees signed below, have serious concerns about this aggressive rollout during our most critical years to reverse the global rise of authoritarianism and the climate crisis,” the letter reads.

The staff said that those who “develop, train, and use AI” feel a moral responsibility to intervene before the technology is deployed irresponsibly.

Climate concerns take center stage

While Amazon has publicly pledged to reach net-zero carbon emissions by 2040, the letter claims the company’s carbon footprint has increased by 35 percent since 2019.

Employees criticized Amazon’s plan to build hundreds of AI data centers, many of which are located in drought-prone areas where they consume huge amounts of water and energy. He alleged that Amazon’s facilities “require energy that could keep coal or gas plants running” and that the company has lobbied against laws mandating the use of clean energy for such centers.

The letter also highlights Amazon Web Services’ partnerships with oil and gas companies, arguing that AI tools used to increase drilling efficiency directly undermine global climate efforts.

Jobs and workers’ rights are at risk

Beyond environmental issues, employees raised concerns about the impact of AI on jobs and working conditions. He cited Jassy’s public comments about deploying AI “agents” in Amazon operations, which he said would make remaining roles “exciting and fun.” However, activists painted a different picture. He said AI rollouts mean higher workloads, shorter deadlines and inefficient processes driven by poorly implemented automation.

They also accused the company of challenging the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB), the US agency responsible for protecting workers’ rights. Such actions show that Amazon’s leadership is prioritizing control over collaboration, the workers said.

Fear of AI misuse and lack of accountability

The open letter also touches on the broader ethical risks associated with unregulated AI deployment. Employees pointed out that Amazon, along with other tech giants like Meta, Microsoft and Google, have lobbied against government regulation of AI for more than a decade.

He expressed fears that AI systems could be misused for violence, surveillance or mass deportation, especially without transparent monitoring. Employees also noted that Jeff Bezos’ ownership of The Washington Post gives Amazon indirect influence over the public discussion about AI and its potential consequences.

The letter concludes, “All of this is challenging, but none of this is inevitable.”

What are employees demanding?

The workers have made three immediate demands of Amazon’s leadership:

• No AI built on dirty energy – all AI data centers must be powered entirely by renewable energy.
• No AI without employee input – Companies should create ethical AI working groups with real decision-making power.
• AI is not used to cause harm – AI systems should not be deployed to cause violence, surveillance or fossil fuel extraction.

So far, 1,039 Amazon employees have signed the letter, along with more than 2,400 supporters outside the company, including employees at Google, Meta, Microsoft, Apple, Uber, and SpaceX.

At this time, Amazon has not publicly responded to the open letter. But with growing pressure from its own workforce, the company may soon have to decide whether its race to dominate the AI ​​landscape is worth the discontent brewing within its own walls.