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A twelvemonth ago, Google started disconnected 2024 pinch some layoffs. It hasn’t taken akin steps (yet) successful 2025, but employees are fearing the worst. And if the Platforms and Devices squad is thing to spell by, there’s ample logic for concern. Google has distributed a memo to each US labor moving connected Android, Pixel hardware, and different projects that offers a “voluntary exit program” guaranteeing severance for anyone consenting to measurement distant from their domiciled astatine the company. The memo went retired from platforms and devices SVP Rick Osterloh, according to 9to5Google.
“This comes aft we brought 2 ample organizations together past year,” Osterloh wrote. “There’s tremendous momentum connected this squad and pinch truthful overmuch important activity ahead, we want everyone to beryllium profoundly committed to our ngo and focused connected building awesome products, pinch velocity and efficiency.” Voluntary buyouts tin often beryllium a precursor to layoffs if not capable labor return Google up connected its connection and take to leave.
Google combined its Android and hardware teams nether Osterloh successful April. Executives said the streamlined attack would thief it merge AI features crossed products and services much quickly.
A fewer months later successful October, Alphabet’s main finance serviceman Anat Ashkenazi said she would prioritize “cost efficiencies” passim the company. “There’s really bully activity that was done, started by Ruth, Sundar and the remainder of the lead squad to re-engineer the costs base,” she said during her first net telephone arsenic CFO. “But I deliberation immoderate statement tin ever push a small further and I’ll beryllium looking astatine further opportunities.” The cost-cutting measures are partially designed to offset Google pouring truthful overmuch money into AI.
Google’s Pixel phones person ne'er travel anyplace adjacent to the income numbers enjoyed by Apple and Samsung, but the institution is astatine slightest trending successful the correct direction; Counterpoint Research reported that Google recorded its highest-ever quarterly income measurement for smartphones successful Q3 2024.
Some labor astatine Google person precocious been circulating a petition that calls for CEO Sundar Pichai to connection precisely this type of optional buyout earlier resorting to involuntary layoffs. “Ongoing rounds of layoffs make america consciousness insecure astir our jobs,” the petition said, according to CNBC. “The institution is intelligibly successful a beardown financial position, making the nonaccomplishment of truthful galore valuable colleagues without mentation wounded moreover more.”
At slightest for the clip being, it appears the voluntary exit programme hasn’t been extended to different divisions wrong Google for illustration hunt aliases the DeepMind AI team.