Google’s CEO, Sundar Pichai, has cautioned the company’s employees about potential job losses as Google shifts its focus to new technologies like AI, according to a memo titled “2024 priorities and the year ahead,” as reported by CNBC.
Pichai stated in the memo that tough choices need to be made to create capacity for investment, and these reductions are part of the company’s efforts to achieve ambitious goals. However, he acknowledged the difficulty of seeing colleagues and teams impacted.
The reduction in workforce is aimed at simplifying execution and driving velocity, Pichai mentioned in the memo. Google will also be sharing its AI goals for the year and publishing Objectives and Key Results (OKRs) soon.
Pichai assured that the layoffs will not be on the same scale as last year and will not impact all teams, although he did not specify which teams are likely to be affected.
Google has already let go of about 1000 employees from various teams since the beginning of the year, including Pixel smartphones, hardware, ads, and services. The company also unveiled its generative AI software model, Gemini, last month, aiming to establish a leadership position in the AI space.
It’s worth noting that Google is not the only company making layoffs. Other tech giants like Qualcomm, Broadcom, Meta, Microsoft, Cisco, Oracle, and Red Hat have also announced layoffs recently, mainly due to extensive hiring during the pandemic and economic uncertainties.
2024-01-24 10:41:02
Article from www.computerworld.com