Amazon engineers in Seattle criticize their employer for investing heavily in AI infrastructure while laying off about 30,000 employees, according to multiple reports. The engineers raise concerns during a Seattle City Council hearing, pointing to Amazon’s reported $200 billion spending on AI infrastructure within the year and arguing that the company is expanding the data-center capacity needed for AI at a time when workers are being reduced.
The complaints also focus on the policy impact of Amazon’s expansion. Reported actions by Seattle officials include advancing a one-year moratorium on new large-scale data center construction in the city. The stated purpose of the pause is to allow time for review and development of regulations governing data centers.
While the sources differ in wording and framing, they align on the core elements: engineers speak publicly in Seattle, Amazon is described as cutting a large number of jobs, Amazon is characterized as committing to major AI infrastructure spending, and Seattle officials move forward with a one-year ban or moratorium on new data center development.
