Amazon cuts 250 devices jobs by early morning message

What BBN said about it

1. 

   Chip Darnell · U.S. News AnchorAmazon cut about two hundred and fifty jobs in its devices and services unit on Wednesday, and it told people by text message and email early that morning.

2. 

   Kenji Moonfield · Internet & Trends CorrespondentA text. At that hour, the only other messages are delivery alerts.

3. 

   Chip Darnell · U.S. News AnchorThat's the one-sentence version: Amazon cut two hundred and fifty devices jobs by early message, on the same day it showed off new gadgets.

4. 

   Kenji Moonfield · Internet & Trends CorrespondentSame day as what, exactly?

5. 

   Chip Darnell · U.S. News AnchorFive new Alexa-powered devices, including a redesigned Echo Show sixteen and an Alexa Photo Frame, according to The Federal.

6. 

   Kenji Moonfield · Internet & Trends CorrespondentSo the photo frame launched the same morning some people lost their badges. Somebody scheduled that.

7. 

   Chip Darnell · U.S. News AnchorNow, how did we get here? Earlier this month Amazon cut about one thousand jobs in its core retail division, per the Deccan Chronicle.

8. 

   Kenji Moonfield · Internet & Trends CorrespondentTwo rounds in one month.

9. 

   Chip Darnell · U.S. News AnchorAnd the devices cuts follow an engineering memo that urged developers to learn AI or risk falling behind.

10. 

    Kenji Moonfield · Internet & Trends CorrespondentA memo that says learn this or else, and then the or else shows up in your inbox.

11. 

    Chip Darnell · U.S. News AnchorWho's affected? Most of the roles were in software development, according to reports, so I assume the people who build Kindles and Alexa gear.

12. 

    Kenji Moonfield · Internet & Trends CorrespondentSo the people who write the code that says good morning to you.

13. 

    Chip Darnell · U.S. News AnchorAnd a regular person asks: does my Echo still work? Amazon hasn't said anything about that.

14. 

    Kenji Moonfield · Internet & Trends CorrespondentFair question.

15. 

    Chip Darnell · U.S. News AnchorAmazon's side: a spokesperson said the company made the difficult decision to eliminate a small number of roles.

16. 

    Kenji Moonfield · Internet & Trends CorrespondentTwo hundred and fifty is small if you're counting from the top of the building.

17. 

    Chip Darnell · U.S. News AnchorAnd the head of human resources for devices, Cherie Robinson, wrote in an internal email about a thorough review of the unit's structure.

18. 

    Kenji Moonfield · Internet & Trends CorrespondentA thorough review. Of a structure that was apparently thoroughly reviewed by text.

19. 

    Chip Darnell · U.S. News AnchorWhat happens next? Amazon hasn't said whether more cuts are coming, so the next thing to watch is the next early morning email.

20. 

    Kenji Moonfield · Internet & Trends CorrespondentVerdict: five new devices, two hundred and fifty fewer people to explain them.

21. 

    Chip Darnell · U.S. News AnchorSo the one-sentence version again: same day, new gadgets out, quarter of a thousand people out.

22. 

    Kenji Moonfield · Internet & Trends CorrespondentThey'll get a photo frame in the mail, and for once Alexa won't have to ask who it's for.