Google has laid off hundreds of workers from its Platforms and Devices unit, the team behind Android, Pixel phones, and the Chrome browser. The latest job cuts come as part of a wider restructuring effort following the 2023 merger of the Android and Chrome teams into a unified group under Pixel and Devices.
While the company has described the move as strategic, insiders say the layoffs were inevitable as Google seeks to streamline operations and accelerate execution. In a statement to Reuters, a Google spokesperson said the tech firm is “becoming more nimble” and that the job reductions were part of broader efforts to improve efficiency.
This comes in addition to a voluntary exit program introduced in January, aimed at offering an alternative path for staff who no longer fit within the company’s new hybrid structure. However, sources suggest that the number of voluntary exits did not meet expectations, prompting the company to proceed with compulsory layoffs.
This development follows a series of similar workforce cuts across Google in recent times. In January 2023, the company let go of 12,000 employees globally, citing cost management and repositioning strategies. More recently, in February, Google Cloud support teams were also affected as the company shifted focus to more “critical” roles in sales and engineering. The latest cuts appear to signal a continuation of the same corporate playbook aimed at trimming perceived excess.
Though Google has not disclosed the exact number of affected employees in this latest round, the impact is already visible. For many, it means the end of roles that played crucial parts in Google’s hardware and software development. As the company pivots towards leaner structures, fewer products, and efficiency-driven goals, the underlying message is clear: adapt quickly—or risk being left behind.