Amazon Coders Say AI Is Turning Creative Work Into Assembly-Line Labor

Amazon software engineers are speaking out about a growing concern: that their jobs are starting to feel less like innovative tech roles and more like warehouse work. According to a recent New York Times report, many coders at the company say the increasing use of artificial intelligence tools and performance-tracking systems is stripping their work of creativity and autonomy.

Engineers describe a workplace culture where speed and output are prioritized above all else. AI systems now assign tasks, track productivity, and even monitor code submissions, pushing developers to complete features in days instead of weeks. One engineer remarked that what once took a week or more to build must now be done almost overnight.

This shift, some say, has made them feel like “bystanders in their own jobs,” where the focus has shifted from solving interesting problems to just hitting metrics. The environment mirrors the same kind of efficiency-obsessed model Amazon uses in its warehouses—prompting comparisons between the experiences of coders and factory floor workers.

While Amazon argues that these AI tools help speed up development and improve quality, critics warn that they may be having the opposite effect—dampening innovation and driving skilled workers to burnout or dissatisfaction. Some engineers report feeling demoralized, with their role reduced to completing rigid, pre-defined tasks rather than contributing ideas or designing meaningful solutions.

This story taps into a broader anxiety spreading through the tech industry: as companies race to adopt AI to stay competitive, they may also be inadvertently eroding what once made tech jobs desirable—freedom, creativity, and problem-solving.

For many Amazon engineers, the future of software development is looking a lot more like logistics—and that’s not what they signed up for.

My Perspective on the Changing Nature of Software Development

I believe we are living in a VUCA world—volatile, uncertain, complex, and ambiguous. In this environment, speed is everything. It’s no surprise that Amazon is leveraging this moment to accelerate even further. The company already leads the industry with a staggering number of software releases per day—years ago they were already deploying 20,000 times daily, compared to traditional enterprises that might manage only a few releases per year for some components. This is especially true for legacy-heavy industries like automotive, which often struggle with digital agility.

But what happens when a developer becomes more of a director than a creator? In many ways, software development is a craft. And like any craft, it’s deeply satisfying to solve problems through skilled, hands-on work. However, if developers are reduced to merely observing, reviewing, and validating automated processes—rather than building themselves—it can understandably lead to frustration.

At the same time, we're seeing increased monitoring and tracking. This collides with the traditional mindset of software engineering—a profession where freedom, exploration, and even a bit of creative “disappearing into complexity” were once part of the culture. That escape hatch is now being sealed shut. And this may just be the beginning.

I personally use AI-driven tools in my development work and have clearly seen a significant boost in productivity. But I’ve also felt the accompanying pressure. There's an implicit expectation to achieve more and more in less and less time. This pressure is now cascading from management down to individual developers.

Yet, there are also incredible opportunities ahead. Legacy systems—often the biggest blockers in large enterprises’ digital transformations—can now be refactored more quickly and efficiently with the help of AI. While output expectations will surely rise, we also have the potential to finally break through old barriers that have slowed innovation for decades (my personal favorite: COBOL! 😄) .

In the end, it's about balance. If we can harness these new tools not just to demand more from developers, but to empower them—to make their work more impactful, more creative, and more fulfilling—then we can truly shape a future where speed and craftsmanship go hand in hand.