Google Streamlines Workforce in Efficiency Push

Google announced workforce reductions across several departments, impacting hardware, central engineering, and Google Assistant teams. The company spokesperson confirmed to CNBC that these cuts aim to prioritize efficiency and focus on “biggest product priorities.”

This recent move follows Google’s trend of cost-cutting measures to manage its pandemic-era workforce expansion. In January 2023, Google reduced its workforce by 12,000 employees, roughly 6% of its total. Further cuts were implemented throughout the year in recruiting and news divisions.

Google’s focus has shifted towards advancements in Artificial Intelligence (AI), evidenced by the launch of Bard (chatbot) and Gemini (large language model). This strategic shift aims to maintain Google’s competitive edge against tech giants like Microsoft and Amazon.

“Throughout the latter half of 2023, various teams underwent changes to become more efficient, improve collaboration, and align resources with top product priorities, positioning us for future opportunities,” a Google spokesperson stated in a press release. “These organizational adjustments include some role eliminations globally across certain teams.”