Google Implements Job Cuts Across Google Assistant and Devices and Services Teams.
Google, a subsidiary of Alphabet Inc., has recently decided to undergo significant layoffs in both its Google Assistant software and Devices and Services team. The company revealed plans to terminate hundreds of positions related to the development of its voice-activated Google Assistant software, along with an equal number of roles in the Devices and Services division.
The impact of these workforce reductions spans various departments within Google, affecting employees in the Google Assistant team, the augmented reality hardware team, and the central engineering organization. Reports suggest that even the mapping app Waze has seen layoffs as part of the ongoing organizational changes that started in the second half of 2023.
The restructuring efforts extend to the Devices and Services team, with a particular focus on the 1P AR hardware team, as highlighted by tech media outlet 9to5Google. Google has officially confirmed the reorganization, emphasizing its goal of enhancing efficiency and aligning resources with primary product priorities.
A Google spokesperson informed the media that these changes have been in progress since the second half of 2023. The spokesperson clarified that various teams across the company have been making adjustments to improve efficiency and resource allocation, resulting in role eliminations globally.
As of September 2023, Alphabet, the parent company of Google, employed approximately 182,381 individuals worldwide. In a parallel development, Unity Software, a videogame software provider, has also announced workforce reduction plans, aiming to cut around 25 percent of its employees, equivalent to 1,800 jobs, according to a regulatory filing.
