Google plans to lay off hundreds of employees across multiple parts of its business as the search giant shifts more resources toward the rapid development of artificial intelligence, the company confirmed Thursday. Ta.
Hundreds of employees have been cut from Google's core engineering teams, the company said. Google also cut hundreds of employees from divisions working on its “voice assistant” programs.
Google has streamlined its hardware division, responsible for devices like Pixel, Nest, and Fitbit, while cutting hundreds of other roles.
The exact number of employees affected by the layoffs was not immediately clear. Google had more than 182,000 employees worldwide as of last fall, according to filings.
“As we've said in the past, we are investing responsibly in our biggest priorities and the important opportunities ahead,” a Google spokesperson said in a statement. “To best position us for these opportunities, throughout the second half of 2023 we will help our many teams work more efficiently and better, and align our resources to our top product priorities. We have made changes to do so.”
“Some teams continue to make these types of organizational changes, including the elimination of some roles globally. We will continue to support them as they explore this,” the spokesperson added.
This workforce restructuring comes as Google, Microsoft, and other Big Tech companies are locked in a fierce race to build advanced AI tools.
In December, Google announced its latest generative AI product called Gemini, which will compete directly with Microsoft-backed OpenAI's ChatGPT.
The ousted employee will be able to apply for other positions at the company.
Google also offers resources such as outplacement services and retirement benefits.
semaphores and 9am to 5pm They were the first to report the layoffs.
Google confirmed the reorganization and said the layoffs were a routine organizational change.
Google recently laid off about 12,000 employees company-wide in January of last year.
