AI Is Making Coding Jobs Feel Like Assembly Line Work, Say Amazon Engineers
Since the Industrial Revolution, workers have feared that machines would replace them. But historically, automation didn’t always eliminate jobs—it often made them more repetitive and high-speed, breaking complex roles into simpler, faster tasks. This trend, known as job “degradation,” appears to be happening now in the tech industry, particularly in software engineering.
AI Is Changing the Nature of Coding
As artificial intelligence becomes widely adopted, particularly tools like GitHub Copilot, many coders are not being laid off but are instead seeing their work become faster, more routine, and less creative. A Microsoft-backed study showed AI tools boosted coder productivity by over 25%.
At Amazon, which is heavily investing in generative AI, this shift is especially clear. CEO Andy Jassy recently emphasized that AI is key to increasing productivity and cost efficiency. Engineers report higher expectations, tighter deadlines, and a growing push to rely on AI tools—even building new ones during internal hackathons.
Faster Work, Less Thinking
Some engineers say what once took weeks to build must now be done in days. AI helps speed things up, but also removes time for reflection, collaboration, and deeper thinking. Much of the creative, problem-solving aspect of coding is being replaced with reading, reviewing, and editing AI-generated code.
This mirrors Amazon’s warehouse model: robots didn’t eliminate jobs but made them faster and more repetitive. Similarly, engineers now feel they are being monitored more closely, with performance reviews tied to output targets that AI is expected to help meet.
Impact on Junior Developers and Career Growth
AI also affects career development. Tasks like testing and writing technical memos—once opportunities to learn and grow—are increasingly automated. Junior engineers may miss out on critical experiences needed for advancement.
While Amazon says AI is just a tool to assist engineers, not replace them, some worry it’s diminishing the skill-building process and making developers bystanders in their own roles.
A Broader Industry Trend
Amazon isn’t alone. Shopify now considers AI usage a performance metric, and Google is hosting company-wide hackathons encouraging AI tool development. Over 30% of Google’s code suggestions now come from AI.
Some experts argue that AI is simply evolving the role of coders, much like machines in factories once redefined physical labor. AI could even democratize software development, allowing faster prototyping and innovation, especially for small-scale creators.
Workplace Frustrations Are Mounting
At Amazon, some engineers have joined advocacy groups like Amazon Employees for Climate Justice, using them to voice broader concerns—including stress from AI’s rapid integration and its impact on job quality.
Though there’s no unionization push yet among Amazon coders, parallels to past labor movements are hard to ignore. Just as factory workers once rebelled against the “speed up,” some software engineers today fear a loss of autonomy, creativity, and meaningful work.
