San Francisco, California: Google has officially acknowledged the termination of more than 1000 employees in recent weeks, primarily across its AI and hardware divisions. The tech giant initially announced layoffs in its AI and hardware departments, specifying ‘a few hundred’ job roles being cut. However, reports suggest that the overall layoffs at Google surpass a hundred, with thousands of employees affected by the recent downsizing.
As reported by The Verge, the restructuring extends beyond the Google Hardware team, impacting core engineering and Google Assistant teams. Google confirmed to The Verge that the restructuring measures, amounting to around 1000 job cuts in a single day, were implemented across these teams as part of efficiency and collaboration improvements.
In a statement, Google spokesperson Courtenay Mencini said, “Several of our teams have recently implemented changes to improve efficiency and collaboration.” Mencini hinted at the possibility of further “organisational changes, including some role eliminations globally,” in unspecified teams, indicating that the restructuring may continue.
The recent reorganization at Google, likely driven by the competitive AI landscape, raises the prospect of additional workforce reductions across various divisions. The pressure from Microsoft and OpenAI’s robust AI offerings has prompted internal adjustments within Google’s core search business. While the full extent of potential job cuts remains uncertain, Google’s strategic moves in response to the evolving market suggest continued adjustments.
This development follows Google’s significant layoff announcement in January 2023, affecting 6% of its global workforce. Smaller rounds of layoffs occurred throughout the year as part of the company’s ongoing reorganization. It’s essential to note that Google’s parent company, Alphabet, had 182,381 workers as of September 30th, 2023, meaning the recent layoffs constitute only half a percent of the total workforce.
The wave of job cuts is not exclusive to Google; it reverberates across Silicon Valley. Tech giants like Amazon and Meta have also announced layoffs, reminiscent of the industry-wide layoffs experienced in the previous January.
Amazon recently disclosed layoffs impacting ‘several hundred’ employees in its Prime Video and MGM Studios division. Reports indicate that Amazon is evaluating employee performance, hinting at potential additional job cuts based on performance reviews. Additionally, Amazon-owned video streaming platform Twitch has revealed layoffs affecting approximately 35% of its workforce as part of broader restructuring and cost-cutting measures.
Meta underwent recent restructuring, impacting 60 employees, particularly in technical program manager (TPM) roles. Sources suggest that this move signals a gradual phasing out of TPM positions, placing affected employees in a challenging position: reapply and undergo a new interview process for program manager roles or face employment termination in March.
