Recent Outages and User Impact
On March 5, 2026, thousands of users reported issues accessing Amazon’s website, leading to page errors and disrupted shopping experiences. The problems began around 2:15 p.m., with over 18,000 reports logged on Downdetector.
Initially, reports of outages began to decline shortly after 2:20 p.m., but they surged again around 3:00 p.m. Users faced various issues, including checkout failures, payment errors, and fluctuating prices on items. Additionally, Amazon Fresh was impacted, preventing pickup and delivery orders.
AI Integration Concerns
As the day progressed, the situation drew attention from notable figures, including Elon Musk, who cautioned Amazon to “proceed with caution” amid reports that AI-assisted coding changes may have contributed to the outages. Internal memos revealed that Amazon had experienced four critical incidents in just one week, all linked to these AI changes.
Amazon’s internal AI coding assistant, known as “Kiro,” has been reported to generate flawed code, raising concerns about the reliability of AI in software development. In response to the incidents, Amazon implemented stricter controls requiring senior approval for AI-generated code changes made by junior and mid-level engineers.
Current State and Future Implications
By 7 p.m. on the same day, the number of Amazon-related reports on Downdetector had decreased to fewer than 1,300, indicating that service restoration was underway. However, the outages reflect broader challenges in the industry regarding the integration of generative AI tools into existing systems.
Amazon has faced outages before, including major incidents unrelated to AI, but the recent problems highlight the growing pains associated with the adoption of advanced AI technologies. The company has ambitious plans for AI infrastructure, with a reported $200 billion in capital expenditure, and a significant portion of code—up to 75% in some contexts—is pushed with AI assistance.
Details remain unconfirmed regarding the exact causes of the outages, and it remains unclear if all incidents were directly linked to AI-generated code changes. As Amazon navigates these challenges, the implications for its operations and user trust will be closely monitored.
