Google terminated hundreds of employees on January 10, including those from the voice-activated Google Assistant team and the Devices and Services PA team overseeing Pixel, Nest, and Fitbit hardware.
The restructuring, which follows the departure of Fitbit’s co-founders, James Park and Eric Friedman, has significantly reduced Google’s workforce from 182,000 employees in September 30, 2023.
Notably, Google streamlined its hardware engineering by consolidating Pixel, Fitbit, and Nest into one core team.
The Alphabet Worker Union criticized the layoffs, expressing concern about firing coworkers while the company continues to generate substantial revenue.
In response, a Google spokesperson stated that the restructuring aimed to enhance efficiency, better align resources with product priorities, and position the company for future opportunities.
The restructuring also affected the AR hardware team, with Google planning to collaborate with other original equipment manufacturers (OEMs).
Despite these changes, Google continued its focus on advancing AI-powered features in Google Assistant through Bard, extending its capabilities beyond voice.
In the past year, Google had previously laid off employees in various divisions, including Waze mapping service, recruiting, news, and a significant reduction of 12,000 roles in January 2023.
