By Priya Raghuvanshi

Copyright timesnownews

Google has reportedly laid off more than 100 employees from its design-related departments, marking the latest wave of job cuts as the tech giant accelerates its shift toward artificial intelligence development. CNBC reported the changes this week, highlighting that several teams in the cloud division, including those in “quantitative user experience research” and “platform and service experience,” were among the most affected. The eliminated roles were primarily focused on using data and behavioural insights to guide product design and user experience improvements. According to the report, certain design teams within the cloud unit have been cut by as much as 50 per cent, with many of the job losses centred in the United States. Some impacted employees have been given until early December to find alternative roles within the company, suggesting that Google is providing a limited internal transition window before final separations are confirmed. Layoffs Align With Google’s AI Pivot These job cuts follow a broader organisational trend at Google as the company increases investment in AI infrastructure and capabilities. Just last month, Wired reported the dismissal of over 200 contractors working on key AI projects such as Gemini and AI Overviews. That report also hinted at growing internal tensions, with some workers claiming the layoffs may be partially intended to suppress protests related to low wages and job instability. In February, Google acknowledged letting go of additional staff from its cloud business, stating the move was aimed at sharpening focus on areas deemed “critical to our business and ensure our long-term success.” Ongoing Workforce Optimisation Across Units Other recent cuts have occurred across the global business, as well as in Platforms & Devices and multiple US-based departments. Google confirmed to Reuters that it is making “small changes” across teams to improve collaboration and customer service. To further trim its workforce, the company has also offered voluntary exit packages this year in areas such as HR, hardware, search, ads, marketing, finance, and commerce. As part of its managerial streamlining, Google has reportedly reduced more than a third of middle managers who oversaw smaller teams. According to a February 2025 filing, Google’s global headcount stood at 183,323 employees as of December 2024.