Amazon is requiring senior engineers to sign off on AI-assisted code changes after multiple outages linked to coding assistants. The policy shift affects junior and mid-level engineers who must now get approval before implementing AI-generated changes. The move comes amid growing concerns about reliability as Amazon pushes AI tools across its engineering teams.

Amazon Web Services has experienced at least two incidents tied to AI coding assistants, including a 13-hour outage of a customer cost calculator in December. In that case, engineers allowed the Kiro AI tool to make changes that resulted in the tool deleting and recreating the environment. Amazon characterized the December incident as affecting only a single service in parts of mainland China.

The policy change reflects broader challenges as Amazon balances rapid AI adoption with operational stability. The company has disputed claims that recent layoffs contributed to increased outages, despite reports that business units face more frequent Sev2 incidents requiring rapid response. Amazon says the review of website availability is part of normal business operations and emphasizes its commitment to continual improvement.