Google Plans More Layoffs Following New Year Job Cuts: Report

Google, the prominent tech company, is preparing for additional job cuts after recently laying off numerous employees in various sectors at the beginning of 2024. According to a memo from CEO Sundar Pichai to Google staff, more positions will be affected in an effort to support the company’s ambitious goals and prioritize key areas. Pichai explained that these layoffs are intended to simplify operations and enhance efficiency in certain aspects, emphasizing that they won’t be as extensive as the reductions implemented last year, which saw the elimination of nearly 12,000 jobs.

Reports indicate that YouTube is also undergoing layoffs on the business side, with Chief Business Officer Mary Ellen Coe announcing the developments internally. Google’s recent layoffs have spanned multiple departments, including advertising, trust and safety, shopping, maps, policy core engineering, and YouTube teams. The company confirmed that the job cuts in its global advertising team align with a strategic shift toward leveraging artificial intelligence (AI) for enhanced efficiency and creativity.

In a parallel development, Amazon.com announced last week that it would be laying off several hundred employees in its streaming and studio operations, along with 500 workers at its video streaming platform, Twitch.

While once recognized as a leader in advancing AI research, Google recently unveiled its highly anticipated AI model, Gemini, as part of its efforts to catch up with Microsoft in the competitive AI race.