LOGIC.co.id - Google has once again laid off hundreds of employees this week. The latest cost-cutting move targets teams under the Platform and Devices division, which includes products such as the Pixel smartphone, the Android operating system, and the Chrome browser.
According to The Information, the exact number of affected employees and their countries of employment remain unclear. However, the layoffs are said to be part of an ongoing restructuring effort following Google's offer of a voluntary resignation program (buyout) to around 25,000 employees in the same division in January 2025.
A Google spokesperson stated that the decision was made to enhance internal efficiency following the merger of the Platform and Devices division a few years ago.
“Since the merger, we have focused on becoming more efficient and effective. This includes a reduction in the number of roles, in addition to the buyout program we offered in January,” a Google representative said, as quoted by Reuters on Sunday (April 13, 2025).
Not the First Time Google Has Conducted Mass Layoffs
Employee downsizing is not new for Google. In 2023, the tech giant based in Mountain View also laid off around 12,000 employees, equivalent to 6 percent of its global workforce.
At the time, Google CEO Sundar Pichai explained that the layoffs were a preventive measure to avoid a larger impact on business continuity.
“If you don’t act decisively and early, the situation can worsen. This is a decision I needed to make,” Pichai told employees in an internal meeting in early 2023.
Pichai added that the decision followed lengthy discussions with the company’s founders and board of directors. While the full reasoning was not detailed, the mass layoffs were believed to be linked to slowing business growth amid global economic uncertainty, a drop in online spending, and intense competition in the tech sector, particularly in artificial intelligence (AI).
Efficiency Measures in Response to Industry Pressure
This efficiency move highlights that although Google remains one of the world’s tech giants, it must continue to adapt to industry pressures and shifting consumer behavior.
In recent years, Google has heavily invested in AI, which has become the main battleground among global tech firms. However, such massive investments must be balanced with resource efficiency to remain competitive and sustainable.