Google has reportedly laid off hundreds of employees from its platforms and devices division , which handles Android, Pixel phones , and the Chrome browser .
The news was first reported by The Information. The layoffs come after a voluntary exit in January.
See also: Google brings NotebookLM podcast summaries to Docs
“Since we combined the teams in the Platforms and Devices divisions last year, we’ve focused on becoming more agile and operating more efficiently, and that has included job in addition to the voluntary exit program we offered in January,” a Google spokesperson reportedly told The Information.
It is worth noting that in February, Google had also laid off other employees in the cloud division.
See also: Ironwood: Google's new AI accelerator chip
In January 2023, Alphabet, the owner of Google, announced plans to cut 12,000 jobs , or 6% of its global workforce .
Layoffs in the technology sector highlight the need for companies to adapt to a rapidly changing environment, balancing innovation with sustainability. While these decisions can be difficult, they are often necessary to remain competitive and agile in the marketplace.
See also: Gemini gets smarter with Google Photos integration
At the same time, cuts on such a large scale can have significant effects on the labor. The increased availability of workers can lead to increased competition for available jobs, pressuring workers to accept lower wages or less attractive working conditions.
Also, layoffs at technology companies can have a significant impact on the quality of the products they produce. The loss of skilled personnel can reduce the companies' ability to offer useful services.
Source: Reuters
