Amazon.com Inc. has eliminated at least several hundred positions in its Amazon Web Services cloud division, the company confirmed on Thursday after a Reuters inquiry. A spokesperson said the cuts span multiple teams and follow a strategic review of priorities, adding, “We’ve made the difficult business decision to eliminate some roles across particular teams in AWS as we continue to invest, hire and optimize resources to deliver innovation for our customers.” People familiar with the matter told Reuters the layoffs include so-called “specialists,” staff who help clients design new products and sell existing services. While the company would not disclose an exact figure, employees reported receiving termination emails early Thursday that immediately disabled their computers. Amazon said the decision was driven by resource optimisation and not primarily by its investments in artificial-intelligence initiatives. The move extends a broader restructuring that has seen Amazon shed more than 27,000 roles since 2022. Chief Executive Officer Andy Jassy cautioned last month that broader adoption of generative AI could further reduce headcount, though he emphasised the need to redeploy talent into new areas. Amazon employed about 1.6 million full- and part-time workers worldwide at the end of March. AWS remains Amazon’s most profitable business, with first-quarter sales rising 17% year on year to $29.3 billion and operating income climbing 23% to $11.5 billion. The company said it continues to hire for priority roles within the unit even as it trims elsewhere.