Amazon Pushes AI Coding, Limits Tool Choice

Amazon is accelerating its push toward AI-assisted software development, setting a clear internal goal: 80% of its developers should use AI tools for coding at least once a week.

However, there is a key condition. Engineers are expected to rely primarily on Kiro, the company’s in-house AI coding assistant launched in July 2025.

Kiro as the preferred tool

According to reports citing internal communications, Amazon has made it clear that it does not plan to support additional third-party AI development tools. An internal memo signed by senior executives Peter DeSantis and Dave Treadwell named Kiro as the company’s “recommended AI-native development tool.”

The memo reportedly flagged OpenAI’s Codex as “Do Not Use” after a review period. Anthropic’s Claude Code was also temporarily marked similarly, though that designation was later reversed.

A company spokesperson told media outlets that about 70% of Amazon’s software engineers used Kiro at least once in January. The company aims to increase that number significantly in the coming months.

Internal resistance

The move has not been universally welcomed inside the company. Around 1,500 employees reportedly supported the formal adoption of Claude Code in an internal forum discussion.

Some engineers argued that Claude Code performs better than Kiro for certain tasks. Others expressed concerns that forcing adoption of a single tool may limit innovation.

AWS sales engineers face a unique challenge. While Amazon offers Claude Code to customers via its Bedrock platform, internal teams reportedly face stricter requirements when using it in production workflows. Some employees have questioned how they can promote tools externally that they are limited in using internally.

Complex partnerships

The situation is further complicated by Amazon’s financial ties. The company has invested billions in Anthropic, the creator of Claude, and has also signed a large cloud computing agreement with OpenAI, whose Codex tool faces internal restrictions.

Despite these partnerships, Amazon appears determined to prioritise its own AI ecosystem.

A broader AI transformation

The AI coding mandate is part of a larger strategic shift under CEO Andy Jassy. The company has committed a record $200 billion in capital expenditure this year, with much of the spending directed toward AI infrastructure and data centres.

At the same time, Amazon has reduced its corporate workforce by around 30,000 roles since October 2025, citing efficiency gains driven by automation and AI tools.

Jassy has previously indicated that advances in AI could reshape corporate staffing needs over time. The increased focus on AI-assisted development aligns with that broader cost and productivity strategy.

Balancing efficiency and choice

Amazon maintains that it is not banning external tools outright but applying stricter standards for production use. Still, internal discussions suggest a tension between centralised control and developer preference.

As AI coding assistants become more common across the tech industry, Amazon’s approach highlights a growing debate: should companies allow open competition among tools, or consolidate development around proprietary systems?

For now, Amazon’s position is clear. AI-assisted coding is expected to become routine—and Kiro is the tool the company wants its engineers to use.