Recent Outages at Amazon
On March 5, 2026, Amazon faced significant disruptions as thousands of users reported issues with its website, leading to page errors when attempting to access various services. The problems began around 2:15 p.m., with over 18,000 reports logged on Downdetector.
Shortly after the initial spike in reports, the situation appeared to improve, with issues declining around 2:20 p.m. However, reports surged again around 3:00 p.m., indicating ongoing problems. By 7 p.m., the number of Amazon-related reports had decreased to fewer than 1,300, suggesting that services were being restored.
Users experienced various issues during the outage, including difficulties with checkout, payment errors, and fluctuating prices on items. Additionally, Amazon Fresh faced challenges, preventing customers from placing pickup or delivery orders.
Concerns regarding the outages intensified when Elon Musk cautioned Amazon to “proceed with caution” amid reports that AI-assisted coding changes may have contributed to the disruptions. Internal memos revealed that Amazon had experienced four critical incidents within a week, all linked to these AI-assisted changes.
Amazon’s internal AI coding assistant, known as ‘Kiro’, has been reported to generate flawed code, raising questions about the reliability of AI tools in critical infrastructure. The company has previously faced outages, but the recent incidents are notably connected to the integration of generative AI tools.
In response to the situation, Amazon implemented stricter controls requiring senior approval for AI-generated code changes made by junior and mid-level engineers. This move reflects the company’s recognition of the growing pains associated with AI integration in its operations.
According to reports, up to 75% of code pushed in some contexts was generated with AI assistance, highlighting the increasing reliance on such technologies. However, the exact causes of the outages remain unconfirmed, and it is unclear if all incidents were directly linked to AI-generated code changes.
As Amazon navigates these challenges, the company has also announced plans for significant capital expenditure, amounting to $200 billion, aimed at enhancing its AI infrastructure. This investment underscores the importance of AI in Amazon’s future operations.
Amid these developments, the broader implications of the outages are being closely monitored by industry experts, who note that they reflect ongoing challenges in the integration of AI tools across various sectors.
As the situation evolves, stakeholders are left to consider the potential impacts of these outages on Amazon’s reputation and operational efficiency, particularly in an increasingly competitive e-commerce landscape.
