Google lays off hundreds in Platforms and Devices unit as part of restructuring efforts: Report

Alphabet Inc.’s Google has laid off several hundred employees from its Platforms and Devices unit, which includes teams working on the Android operating system, Pixel hardware, and the Chrome browser. The job cuts, first reported by The Information and citing a source with direct knowledge of the matter, represent the latest in a string of workforce reductions at the tech giant.

The layoffs come months after Google offered voluntary buyouts to employees within the same division in January, as part of an effort to streamline operations. A Google spokesperson confirmed the cuts to The Information, stating that the move follows last year’s unification of the Platforms and Devices teams. “Since combining the Platforms and Devices teams last year, we’ve focused on becoming more nimble and operating more effectively, and this included making some job reductions in addition to the voluntary exit program that we offered in January,” the spokesperson said.

The exact number of employees affected has not been disclosed, and Google has yet to issue a formal public statement. Reuters reported that the company did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

This round of layoffs adds to a broader trend of workforce restructuring at Google. In February, Bloomberg reported cuts within Google Cloud’s division, although those reductions were limited to a few specific teams. More significantly, in January 2023, Alphabet announced a sweeping plan to eliminate 12,000 roles—approximately 6% of its global workforce—in response to a slowing digital ad market and growing economic uncertainty.

The latest layoffs appear to reflect a continued focus on operational efficiency within Google’s hardware and software teams. Despite being one of the world’s most profitable technology firms, Alphabet has faced mounting pressure from investors to reduce costs and refocus its strategy amid a shifting landscape in consumer technology and AI-driven innovation.

The Platforms and Devices division plays a critical role in Google’s ecosystem, overseeing the development of flagship products such as Pixel smartphones and the Android OS, which powers billions of devices worldwide. The restructuring of this unit signals a potential shift in how Google plans to manage its product development cycles and hardware ambitions in the years ahead.