Amazon, AMZN, is hoping its robots can replace more than 600,000 jobs it would otherwise have to hire in the United States by 2033

Amazon is reportedly advancing automation initiatives that could allow it to avoid hiring over half a million U.S. workers. According to The New York Times, which cited interviews and internal strategy documents, the company aims for its robots to replace more than 600,000 jobs it would otherwise need to fill in the United States by 2033, even as Amazon expects product sales to roughly double over that period.

The documents indicate that Amazon’s robotics division is targeting automation of 75% of total operations, anticipating that by 2027 it will eliminate about 160,000 U.S. roles that would otherwise have been required. The automation push is projected to save roughly $0.30 per item handled in Amazon’s warehouses and delivery network, amounting to about $12.6 billion in savings between 2025 and 2027.

In anticipation of potential backlash over job losses, Amazon has reportedly considered ways to bolster its image as a “good corporate citizen.” The company explored participating in community programs and avoiding language like “automation” and “AI,” opting instead for softer terms such as “advanced technology” or “cobot” (referring to robots that collaborate with human workers).

In a statement to The Verge, Amazon spokesperson Kelly Nantel said the leaked materials reflect the perspective of a single team and do not represent the company’s broader hiring strategy “now or moving forward.”

“Leaked documents often paint an incomplete and misleading picture of our plans, and that’s the case here,” Nantel said. “In our written narrative culture, thousands of documents circulate throughout the company at any given time, each with varying degrees of accuracy and timeliness. We’re actively hiring at operations facilities nationwide and recently announced plans to fill 250,000 positions for the holiday season.”