Google is offering buyouts to its “Platforms and Devices” unit, which includes over 25,000 full-time employees working on Android, Chrome, ChromeOS, Google Photos, Google One, Pixel, Fitbit, and Nest.
According to CNBC’s report, The voluntary exit enrollment applies to full-time employees in the U.S. The buyouts are a signal of expected cuts within Google as it continues prioritising artificial intelligence. Google’s new CFO Anat Ashkenazi has stated that cost cutting will be a top priority as Google expands its spending on AI infrastructure in 2025. The “voluntary exit plan” may be a fit for employees struggling to meet job demands, the unit’s hybrid work environment, or whose passions don’t align with the division’s mission and goal.
Employees have until February 20 to enroll in the exit program, and those who volunteer will find out whether they’ve been accepted on March 25. Some employees have praised Google’s decision to offer buyouts rather than immediately laying off employees. Google’s revenue rose to $10.66 billion in the third quarter, up nearly 28 per cent from the previous year.
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