Kate Laurensen is a veteran reporter. She started out covering entertainment news for the local city paper before moving up to the City desk. She studied journalism at San Francisco City College for the Arts.
October 29 , 2025
Seattle, WA — In a surprising statement released Tuesday morning, Amazon confirmed plans to lay off roughly 18,000 warehouse and delivery workers across North America by early 2026. The company said the move is part of a broader “efficiency transformation” that combines next-generation artificial intelligence systems with trained rhesus monkeys sourced through a research partnership with Tulane University.
According to the announcement, the AI systems will manage logistical planning, packaging, and autonomous delivery coordination, while the rhesus monkeys will fill select physical roles in warehouses and local delivery networks. An Amazon spokesperson described the approach as “a bold experiment in blended labor automation.”
“By merging adaptive AI with the unique agility and intelligence of rhesus macaques, we believe we can redefine fulfillment logistics,” said Vice President of Operations Sarah Mullins. “This strategy allows us to maintain flexibility while reducing long-term labor costs.”
The monkeys, according to Tulane’s Neurobehavioral Research Center, have undergone extensive conditioning aimed at equipping them to perform repetitive tasks previously handled by human staff. Many will work under close biomechanical monitoring to ensure safety and compliance with animal welfare standards.
Labor advocates, however, immediately voiced concern about the ethical and economic implications. Union representatives said the layoffs further concentrate power in the hands of corporate automation strategies while offering no clear recourse for displaced workers. “Replacing people with primates and algorithms is not innovation—it’s avoidance of accountability,” said Teamsters spokesperson Alicia Ortega.
The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health stated it would review the program to ensure compliance with existing workplace safety laws, noting that “animal participation in commercial labor introduces new regulatory challenges.” Animal rights groups have also begun calling for investigations into Amazon’s use of primate labor, citing potential violations of federal welfare statutes.
Amazon’s stock rose two percent following the announcement, signaling market approval for the cost-cutting initiative. Company officials said they expect full implementation of the new workforce model by the fourth quarter of 2026.
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