Amazon trims jobs in devices and services unit
Amazon on Wednesday cut about 100 jobs in its devices and services unit, the group overseeing development of such diverse products as the Kindle, Echo speakers, Alexa voice assistant, and Zoox self-driving cars.
Amazon confirmed the cuts following an inquiry from Reuters on Wednesday.
The company said the jobs represented a small number of the total for the unit and were part of its regular business review. A spokesperson declined to provide additional details about which divisions within devices and services were impacted.
'As part of our ongoing work to make our teams and programs operate more efficiently, and to better align with our product roadmap, we've made the difficult decision to eliminate a small number of roles," said the spokesperson.
Amazon trimmed some Alexa-related jobs in 2023 and has been conducting small cuts to various groups in recent months, including its Wondery podcast, stores and communications units.
The Seattle retailer added about 4,000 jobs from last year's fourth quarter to this year's first, according to its earnings release earlier this month.
The cost-saving action comes nearly three months after Amazon introduced its first major overhaul of Alexa in a decade, infusing it with generative artificial intelligence software so that it can act more conversationally and take actions for users, among other features.
CEO Andy Jassy is trying to reduce what he described as excessive bureaucracy at the company, including a plan to reduce the number of managers.
Amazon shares closed the day down less than 1% to $210.25.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
NDTV
4 hours ago
- NDTV
Over 1 Billion Flyers, First Fatal Crash: All About The Boeing 787 Dreamliner
The Boeing 787 Dreamliner took off for its first flight on December 15, 2009, and has flown over a billion passengers. Since entering service in 2011, it had the enviable record of having no fatal accidents - but all that changed on Thursday, when an Air India flight with 242 people on board crashed in Ahmedabad. The Boeing 787 Dreamliner is a long-haul, wide-body aircraft used by airlines for intercontinental flights and its first commercial flight was on October 26, 2011, with an All Nippon Airways aircraft flying to Hong Kong from Tokyo Narita. The Boeing 787 series now has three models - with the Boeing 787-8 - the aircraft involved in Thursday's Ahmedabad crash - being the one that was introduced first and is the smallest. The 787-8 can carry 248 passengers and the 787-9, which also has a longer range, can accommodate 296 flyers. The 787-10, the largest of the three with the smallest range, can seat 336, news agency Reuters reported. Boeing has sold more than 2,500 787s since the model was introduced and 47 have been bought by Air India. It has delivered 1,189 jets but has been facing production delays amid criticism over safety issues in its other models. The twin-engined 787 comes with a choice of two types of engine - manufactured by GE Aerospace or Rolls-Royce. The engines on the plane that crashed on Thursday were supplied by GE, which has said it will support the investigation. More Fuel Efficient The creation of the 787 line marked a breakthrough in design, promising 20% greater fuel efficiency through the use of durable, lightweight composite materials and more electrical systems, the Reuters report said. Its size, range and efficiency made it ideal for opening new routes, bypassing hubs served by jumbos such as the Boeing 747 and Airbus A380, and helping drive both jets out of production. In response, Airbus developed the A350 composite jet. The 787 also pioneered a new way of building planes, outsourcing much of the structure and components to companies around the world. The company later acknowledged, however, that it had gone too far with outsourcing. "Over 1 billion passengers - In under 14 years, the 787 Dreamliner has reached a milestone no other widebody in aviation history has achieved so quickly," Boeing says on its website, adding, "The 787 has redefined what global connection looks like, enabling reunions, discoveries, economic growth, and cultural exchange through the innovations that set the 787 Dreamliner apart." After the crash on Thursday, the company said in a statement, "We are in contact with Air India regarding Flight 171 and stand ready to support them. Our thoughts are with the passengers, crew, first responders and all affected." Earlier Incidents There were 242 people aboard the plane - Air India flight 171 - which crashed in Ahmedabad and only one has reportedly survived. In July 2013, an Ethiopian Airlines 787, which had no passengers, caught fire on the ground at Heathrow airport in London. The incident was later linked to a short-circuit in an Emergency Locator Transmitter. The same year, regulators temporarily grounded the global 787 fleet following the overheating of lithium batteries on two Japanese planes in Tokyo and Boston. Design changes were then made to fix this. In March last year, at least 50 people were injured when a 787 operated by the Chilean LATAM Airlines dropped abruptly in mid-flight from Sydney to Auckland. Investigators focused on an involuntary forward movement in the pilot seat.
Economic Times
4 hours ago
- Economic Times
US weekly jobless claims steady at higher levels
Synopsis Weekly U.S. jobless claims remained unchanged at 248,000 for the week ending June 7, indicating a steady softening of the labor market. Economists had expected a drop to 240,000. Hiring is slowing amid tighter immigration policies and lingering economic uncertainty. Revised data may show job gains between April 2024 and March 2025 were overstated by up to 1.125 million. The number of Americans filing new applications for unemployment benefits was unchanged at higher levels last week as labor market conditions continued to steadily ease. Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Initial claims for state unemployment benefits held steady at a seasonally adjusted 248,000 for the week ended June 7, the Labor Department said on Thursday. Economists polled by Reuters had forecast 240,000 claims for the latest week. Want a Loan? Get cash against your Mutual Funds in 4 hours Claims could remain elevated, with the school year ending this month as some states allow non-teaching staff to collect benefits during the long summer holidays. Though there have been no widespread layoffs as employers hoard workers amid economic uncertainty spawned by President Donald's aggressive tariffs, the labor market is steadily losing steam. An immigration crackdown by the White House is also slowing employment gains. Nonfarm payrolls increased by 139,000 jobs in May, down from 193,000 a year ago. A lagging measure of employment, the Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages (QCEW), has suggested a much slower pace of job growth between April 2024 and December 2024 than reported in the survey of establishments from which the nonfarm payrolls data is compiled. Economists said this partly reflected reduced labor supply because of immigration restrictions imposed by former President Joe Biden's administration in mid-2024. Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads The QCEW data is derived from reports by employers to the state unemployment insurance programs. Economists said the QCEW data raised the possibility that payrolls could be revised substantially down from April 2024 through May 2025. Much would, however, depend on the QCEW data for the first quarter. "All things considered, we think the 2025 benchmark revision is most likely to revise down job gains from April 2024-March 2025 by 800,000-1.125 million, with the range for August's preliminary benchmark announcement about 200,000 higher," said Jonathan Millar, a senior economist at Barclays. "This would trim monthly payroll gains over the benchmark period by about 65,000-95,000 per month relative to the current estimate of approximately 150,000 per month." The claims report showed the number of people receiving benefits after an initial week of aid, a proxy for hiring, increased 54,000 to a seasonally adjusted 1.956 million during the week ending May 31. Recently laid off workers are struggling to find work, though the median duration of unemployment dropped to 9.5 weeks in May after surging to 10.4 weeks in April.
Time of India
5 hours ago
- Time of India
India in talks with China over rare earth exports, aims for predictability in trade, Maruti cuts EV output
India is actively engaging with China to ensure stability and predictability in trade-related supply chains, following Beijing's recent curbs on rare earth exports that have disrupted the global automotive sector. 'We are in touch with the Chinese side, both here in Delhi as also in Beijing, to bring predictability in supply chain for trade, consistent with international practices,' External affairs ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said at a press briefing on Thursday. China's export restrictions on key rare earth materials have caused concern among automakers worldwide. Maruti Suzuki, India's largest carmaker, has scaled back near-term production targets for its first electric vehicle due to raw material shortages, Reuters reported earlier this week. The company aimed to produce just 8,000 units by September—down sharply from the originally planned 26,000+ units. The shortfall followed China's move to tighten export restrictions on key rare earth elements and magnets—materials essential for electric vehicle motors. Since April 4, Beijing mandated special licences for exporting seven types of rare earths, including samarium, gadolinium, terbium, dysprosium, and lutetium. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Upto 15% Discount for Salaried Individuals ICICI Pru Life Insurance Plan Get Quote Undo These materials played a vital role in EV propulsion systems and other high-tech applications such as missiles and defense electronics. 'As of now, there is no impact on production,' Maruti Suzuki Chairman R.C. Bhargava said earlier this week. However, supply-side risks remained, as China controlled over 90% of global processing capacity for these crucial materials. Meanwhile, Several Indian automakers sought government intervention to expedite approvals from Chinese authorities through local vendors for importing rare earth magnets. However, no licences had been granted, resulting in growing uncertainty across the EV and hybrid vehicle manufacturing sectors. Rare earth magnets are critical components in permanent magnet synchronous motors (PMSMs), which are used in EVs for their high torque, efficiency, and compact design. While internal combustion engine vehicles used them more sparingly—such as in electric power steering—their importance in electrified powertrains was substantial. Stay informed with the latest business news, updates on bank holidays and public holidays . AI Masterclass for Students. Upskill Young Ones Today!– Join Now
