Google fired hundreds of workers after offering voluntary buyouts earlier this year. The cuts affected staff from the Android, Chrome, and Pixel teams. Google combined these groups under a single Pixels and Devices department.
The company confirmed these job cuts, saying they want to become more agile and efficient. Google hasn't shared which specific teams lost the most people. Regular users won't notice any changes because all planned products remain on schedule for release this year.
Google started reorganizing things a few months back, with voluntary buyouts offered in January. The company had merged Android and Chrome with the Pixel division under Rick Osterloh, creating a massive team with over 20,000 employees. They appear to be building a more connected ecosystem with AI as the main focus across all products.
This isn't Google's first round of layoffs - they cut about 6% of their worldwide staff just last year. At the same time, reports claim Google pays some AI employees a full year's salary for doing nothing rather than letting them work for competitors. Apple keeps working to improve Siri and Apple Intelligence to compete better against Google.
The company confirmed these job cuts, saying they want to become more agile and efficient. Google hasn't shared which specific teams lost the most people. Regular users won't notice any changes because all planned products remain on schedule for release this year.
Google started reorganizing things a few months back, with voluntary buyouts offered in January. The company had merged Android and Chrome with the Pixel division under Rick Osterloh, creating a massive team with over 20,000 employees. They appear to be building a more connected ecosystem with AI as the main focus across all products.
This isn't Google's first round of layoffs - they cut about 6% of their worldwide staff just last year. At the same time, reports claim Google pays some AI employees a full year's salary for doing nothing rather than letting them work for competitors. Apple keeps working to improve Siri and Apple Intelligence to compete better against Google.
