It’s been said that Google has terminated “hundreds of employees” as soon as they offered to volunteer for many events in January. The employees laid off were mainly from the Android, Pixel, and Chrome divisions. If you’re unfamiliar with it, Google merged the Android and Chrome teams to fall under the Pixel and Devices group. This event could also be the main reason for these layoffs.
According to the information, Google has laid off more than 12,000 people. They have also confirmed that “job reductions” in a statement saying Google is “focusing on becoming more nimble and operating more effectively.” So far, no details are available about any specific teams or products being affected by the lack of employees. However, this impact won’t reach the end user, for the company has planned out what products or features will be released this year, just like they have before.
Google is working to improve because they are afraid that AI projects will surpass it. IBT explains, “Google’s scrambling to outshine rivals like OpenAI, which raised £5.1 billion ($6.7 billion) in 2024.” Google’s goal is to focus on AI aspects to beat competitors, leading to layoffs, so there is more money. To further prove this, IBT also says, “Microsoft’s £3.1 billion ($4 billion) AI investment last year adds pressure, as does Nvidia’s chip dominance, pushing Google to redirect budgets from established products.”
A few months ago, Google began restructuring its internal affairs, offering voluntary buyouts, a financial incentive offered to employees, typically by their employer, in exchange for their voluntary separation from the company, in January of this year. Before the buyout, the Android and Chrome units were merged with the Pixel and Devices under chief Rick Osterloh in 2024, and the combined units had more than 20,000 employees.
Many other big tech companies have been laying off employees as well. Facebook-Parent Meta has laid off around 5% of its employees, laying off its “lower performers”, and hiring engineers. Microsoft laid off 650 workers in its Xbox unit in September, Amazon has laid off employees in several units, and Apple eliminated 100 roles in its digital services group last year.
Google is working to improve its system by getting ahead of the competition and merging the Chrome and Pixel units to operate more quickly and effectively. However, doing this requires thousands of employees to be laid off. Is laying off employees truly necessary to improve Google?
Sources:
- Google Layoffs Hit Hard: Android and Pixel Departments Streamlined, What’s Behind the Cuts? | IBTimes UK
- Google Lays Off Hundreds Of Employees In Major Shakeup After Android And Pixel Merger, Saying It Is “Focused On Becoming More Nimble And Operating More Effectively”
- Google Lays Off Hundreds in Platforms and Devices Unit | Entrepreneur
- Google lays off hundreds of employees in Android, Pixel teams, The Information reports | Reuters
