Hundreds of people across several divisions have been laid off as a result of Google’s massive workforce reductions. This staff include members of the team responsible for the voice-activated Google Assistant, as well as members of the Devices and Services Product Area (DSPA) team, which is responsible for managing hardware products such as Pixel, Nest and Fitbit. This move is part of Google’s larger efforts to simplify operations and focus on key product objectives, and is part of that strategy.
This strategic move towards more efficient operations is reflected in the realignment of teams at Google, which is especially important in light of the increasing use of technologies that leverage generative artificial intelligence. Google announced last year that it planned to incorporate generative artificial intelligence capabilities into its virtual assistant. The company’s goal was to improve functions such as trip planning and email management.
The Alphabet Workers Union, on the other hand, has done so expressed their disapproval of this restructuring, stating that the layoffs are needles and that they are not in line with the profitability of the company. It was conveyed that the union was concerned about the job security of its members and was committed to fighting for the rights of its members.
Tonight, Google began a new round of unnecessary layoffs. Our members and teammates work hard every day to build great products for our users, and the company can’t keep firing our colleagues while we make billions every quarter. We won’t stop fighting until our jobs are safe!
Google has reduced the number of its Augmented Reality (AR) hardware teams, in addition to those working on Voice Assistant and hardware. For future hardware development, the company plans to collaborate with other Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) to combine its hardware engineering efforts into one core team.
It’s important to note that James Park and Eric Friedman, both co-founders of Fitbit, are leaving the company as part of this restructuring. One of the most important parts of Google’s hardware portfolio is the Pixel Watch line, which was introduced largely thanks to Park’s contributions.
There has been a trend of job cuts at Google, including cuts to several teams like Waze, recruiting and news departments, and these layoffs are the latest in that pattern. The announcement of a company-wide layoff of approximately 12,000 jobs, accounting for approximately 6% of Google’s employees worldwide, was made by Google in January 2023.
Google’s choice reflects a larger trend in the technology sector, as companies reevaluate their workforces in response to the challenges posed by the economy and changing market expectations. This action is seen as a strategic realignment with the aim of prioritizing investments and making the most of substantial prospects in the future.
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