Google Reportedly Lays Off Hundreds Across Pixel, Chrome, Android Teams

Google has laid off hundreds of workers across its Pixel, Chrome, and Android teams, The Information reports, citing a person familiar with the move.

The layoffs arrive a few months after Google announced a “voluntary exit program” for its Platforms and Devices team. Google SVP Rick Osterloh told employees to “be deeply committed to our mission and focused on building great products,” or voluntarily leave the company with a severance package.

The platforms and device teams merged last year under Osterloh, who said the move was necessary for quicker integration of AI across all of Google’s products. Since then, Google has “focused on becoming more nimble and operating more effectively and this included making some job reductions in addition to the voluntary exit program that we offered in January,” a Google spokesperson told The Information.

It’s unclear how many employees took the voluntary buy-out and how many were laid off in this round. However, Google announced plans to cut 12,000 jobs or 6% of its workforce in 2023. Some members of Google Cloud’s sales team were also let go in February, Bloomberg reports.

This round of cuts comes a few weeks before Google’s I/O developer conference. In the past, it has showcased the next version of Android, but has become particularly focused on AI of late.

A number of major tech companies have announced deep job cuts in recent years, including upwards of 10,000 layoffs at Microsoft and Meta and 15,000 at Intel.

About Jibin Joseph

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Jibin is a tech news writer based out of Ahmedabad, India. Previously, he served as the editor of iGeeksBlog and is a self-proclaimed tech enthusiast who loves breaking down complex information for a broader audience.

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