Amazon is making significant changes to its Alexa division laying off “several hundred employees,” including some in India. This shift reflects the e-commerce giant’s new focus on artificial intelligence (AI).
The exact number of employees being affected in India is not yet known, but the company has stated that it will communicate with affected colleagues in India next week. Amazon Vice President of Alexa and Fire TV team, Daniel Rausch, revealed in a memo to employees that “several hundred roles” are being eliminated.
Rausch explained that the company is “shifting some of our efforts to better align with our business priorities and what we know matters most to customers.” He also emphasized that Amazon’s investments in generative AI are bringing their vision for an even more intuitive, intelligent, and useful Alexa closer than ever before.
The affected employees are being offered packages that include separation payments, transitional health insurance benefits, external job placement support, and paid time to conduct a job search. This announcement comes after Amazon’s layoffs in its Devices & Services division last year as part of company-wide cuts.
In line with these organizational changes, Dave Limp, the head of Amazon’s Devices & Services division, announced in August that he would be leaving the company. He has been succeeded Panos Panay, a former Microsoft executive.