Amazon’s Andy Jassy Urges Employees to Attend AI Trainings to Learn ‘How to Get More Done With Scrappier Teams’

As artificial intelligence reshapes the future of work, Amazon CEO Andy Jassy has issued a clear directive to his workforce: embrace AI or risk falling behind. In a recent internal memo and subsequent company-wide town hall, Jassy emphasized the strategic importance of AI trainings across all departments, suggesting that the next generation of productivity will hinge on using artificial intelligence to drive results—especially with leaner teams.

“We’re in a period where we need to get more done with scrappier teams,” Jassy stated, echoing a broader trend in corporate America to boost operational efficiency amidst economic uncertainty and rising competition. “AI isn’t replacing jobs—it’s augmenting our ability to work smarter, faster, and more creatively. But that starts with learning.”

A Shift Toward AI-Native Workflows

Amazon has been at the forefront of integrating artificial intelligence across its vast enterprise—ranging from automating supply chain logistics and customer service to enhancing AWS products and personalizing retail recommendations. Now, the tech giant is turning its attention inward, focusing on how its own employees can leverage AI tools in their day-to-day responsibilities.

In the internal memo obtained by sources close to the company, Jassy stressed that every Amazon employee, regardless of role or technical background, should undergo foundational AI training by the end of 2025. The curriculum includes courses in generative AI, prompt engineering, data literacy, and how to collaborate effectively with AI co-pilots.

“This is not just for engineers,” Jassy wrote. “Everyone—from HR to product managers to marketers—needs to understand how AI can help them move faster and make better decisions.”

Why ‘Scrappier Teams’ Are the Future

The phrase “scrappier teams” may sound like corporate speak, but it’s rooted in a very real operational strategy at Amazon. In recent years, the company has downsized some departments and restructured others in the name of efficiency, placing a premium on agile, cross-functional teams that can ship products and test ideas quickly. This shift has been accelerated by economic pressures, including inflation, rising logistics costs, and global supply chain unpredictability.

By equipping these smaller teams with AI-powered tools—such as automated reporting, natural language processing for customer feedback, and intelligent coding assistants—Amazon aims to maintain high output with fewer human resources.

“AI is the lever that will help us punch above our weight,” Jassy explained during the town hall. “It’s the difference between teams that struggle and those that innovate rapidly.”

AI Learning as a Core Competency

To facilitate this transformation, Amazon has expanded its internal upskilling initiative, “Machine Learning University,” which now includes a dedicated AI for All program. The company has partnered with leading educational institutions and industry experts to create bite-sized, hands-on training modules that can be completed asynchronously.

Employees are encouraged to complete at least one AI project as part of their development goals for 2025, and team leaders are expected to integrate AI use cases into their workflows and KPIs.

Jassy also noted that performance reviews will increasingly take into account how effectively teams adopt and apply AI in their functions. “We’re not looking for perfection—we’re looking for effort and experimentation,” he said.

Culture Change at a Giant Scale

Encouraging AI adoption at a company as vast and varied as Amazon is no small task. With more than 1.5 million employees worldwide, the challenges range from technical training to cultural mindset shifts. Some teams have been quick to adapt; others are reportedly more hesitant, fearing job displacement or workflow disruptions.

To address this, Amazon is launching AI Champions, a peer mentoring network where early adopters help colleagues understand and apply AI tools in practical settings. From Alexa to AWS and beyond, the goal is to create a culture of continuous learning and innovation.

Industry analysts believe Amazon’s internal AI push could set a precedent for other Fortune 500 companies.

“Jassy is betting that AI is not just a tool—it’s a mindset,” said Maria Lin, a tech analyst at Forrester. “By institutionalizing AI literacy across the board, Amazon is laying the groundwork for long-term dominance in an AI-first world.”

Looking Ahead

As the lines between human and machine collaboration continue to blur, companies that invest in employee empowerment through AI will likely gain a competitive edge. Jassy’s call to action underscores a fundamental shift in how modern corporations must think about productivity—not just as a measure of output, but as a function of smart, scalable systems powered by people and AI working together.

Amazon’s next great innovation may not be a product—it may be the reinvention of how its people work.