New Delhi, Jan. 30 -- Amazon's decision to lay off between 500 and 700 employees in India is not just another chapter in Big Tech's ongoing job cuts; it signals a structural rethink of how global technology companies are organising work in an AI-first era.

The layoffs, part of a broader global reduction impacting around 16,000 roles, have disproportionately affected technology and HR teams, with software development engineer (SDE) roles taking the hardest hit. While Amazon declined to comment directly, it pointed to an internal note from Beth Galetti, Senior Vice President, People Experience and Technology, Amazon, outlining a push to reduce layers, remove bureaucracy, and increase ownership.

What stands out is not the scale alone but w...