Amazon closes S.F. AI lab, lays off 1,100 Florida warehouse workers - San Francisco Chronicle

Amazon has closed its San Francisco artificial intelligence lab focused on artificial general intelligence (AGI), according to a San Francisco Chronicle report. Additionally, the company laid off 1,100 warehouse workers in Florida as part of a renovation project. These layoffs follow a earlier reduction of 30,000 office jobs this year.

The AGI lab closure represents a shift in Amazon's AI research priorities, though the company did not provide specific reasons for the shutdown. The Florida layoffs are directly tied to a warehouse renovation project, affecting workers at that facility. The earlier 30,000 office job cuts were announced previously this year and span various departments.

The layoffs and lab closure come amid broader tech industry cost-cutting measures. Amazon has been reducing headcount across both corporate and warehouse operations, citing efficiency and automation efforts. The fate of researchers from the SF AGI lab was not disclosed. The warehouse renovation may involve automation technologies, though the company did not confirm this.