SHANGHAI, Amazon has shuttered its artificial intelligence research lab in Shanghai, a source familiar with the matter confirmed to AFP, marking a notable retreat amid intensifying tech rivalry between the United States and China.
US tech giant Amazon has shut down its artificial intelligence research lab in Shanghai
The lab, which operated under Amazon Web Services (AWS), was reportedly closed as part of a broader strategic realignment. In a WeChat post that has been widely shared on Chinese social media, lab scientist Wang Minjie attributed the move to “strategic adjustment between China and the United States.”
While Amazon did not explicitly confirm the closure when contacted by AFP, AWS spokesperson Brad Glasser stated, “We’ve made the difficult business decision to eliminate some roles across particular teams in AWS. These decisions are necessary as we continue to invest, hire, and optimise resources to deliver innovation for our customers.”
The dedicated AWS China webpage for the Shanghai AI lab, accessible earlier this week, had been taken offline by Friday. Archived versions show the lab was established in late 2018 with the goal of fostering collaboration with the global research community.
This move follows recent job cuts at AWS—reportedly affecting hundreds—and mirrors a broader trend, as other major U.S. tech firms like Microsoft and IBM also scale back research operations in China amid escalating geopolitical and regulatory tensions.
