In a corporate communications disaster that has left Silicon Valley reeling, Amazon has inadvertently revealed a massive new round of layoffs through an email sent in error. The blunder has exposed "Project Dawn," a secretive initiative aimed at slashing thousands of roles across the tech giant's global operations.

The panic began on Tuesday when employees at Amazon Web Services (AWS) received a meeting invite and a draft email signed by Colleen Aubrey, Senior Vice President of Applied AI Solutions. The email erroneously stated that staff in the US, Canada, and Costa Rica had "already been informed" of their termination, sending the workforce into a frenzy of confusion and fear.

"Changes Like This Are Hard"

The leaked email, which was quickly recalled but not before being screenshotted and shared on Slack, used standard corporate euphemisms to deliver the devastating news. "Changes like this are hard on everyone," Aubrey wrote. "These decisions are difficult and are made thoughtfully as we position our organization and AWS for future success."

The slip-up confirms rumours that have been swirling for weeks: Amazon is not done cutting. After shedding 14,000 corporate roles last October, the company is now targeting its cloud computing arm, AWS, which has faced slowing growth and fierce competition from Microsoft Azure and Google Cloud.

• The Scope of Carnage: Insiders suggest "Project Dawn" targets non-engineering roles in HR, sales, and marketing, as well as specific "low-margin" divisions within AWS. The email specifically mentioned the US, Canada, and Costa Rica, but sources in Europe fear they are next.
• The Human Cost: "It's psychological warfare," said one Seattle-based engineer who received the erroneous email. "We are sitting here refreshing our inboxes, waiting to see if we still have a job. Sending a you're fired email by mistake is a new low, even for Amazon."

AI Replacing the Architects

The context of these cuts is undeniably tied to the rise of Artificial Intelligence. Amazon CEO Andy Jassy has been vocal about "efficiency" and the need to pivot resources toward Generative AI. Paradoxically, the very division leading this charge—Applied AI Solutions—is the one overseeing the layoffs.

Amazon has since cancelled the meeting referenced in the email, but the damage is done. Morale at the Seattle HQ has hit rock bottom, with employees openly criticizing leadership on internal forums. As the tech industry continues to bleed jobs in 2026, the "Project Dawn" debacle serves as a grim reminder of the fragility of employment in the algorithmic age.