Skip to main content

Google Cuts Hundreds of Jobs in Assistant, Devices and Services Teams; Fitbit Co-Founders to Depart Google

Alphabet's Google said on Wednesday it is laying off hundreds of people working on its voice-activated Google Assistant software and is eliminating a similar number of roles in the company's Devices and Services team.

The layoffs at Google Assistant, first reported by news platform Semafor, are a part of organizational changes that have been in place since the second half of 2023, which included layoffs at the company's mapping app Waze.

A few hundred roles are being eliminated in the company's Devices and Services team, with the majority in the 1P AR hardware team, the company said, confirming a report by tech media website 9to5Google, which first reported the reorganization.

As part of the move, the co-founders of Google-owned Fitbit, James Park and Eric Friedman, as well as other Fitbit leaders, are leaving Google, the 9to5Google report said.

"Throughout [the] second half of 2023, a number of our teams made changes to become more efficient and work better, and to align their resources to their biggest product priorities. Some teams are continuing to make these kinds of organizational changes, which include some role eliminations globally", a spokesperson told Reuters in a statement. ​

The spokesperson did not specify the number of roles being impacted. It is not immediately clear how many people are part of the Google Assistant software and Devices and Services teams.

As of September 2023, Alphabet had 182,381 employees across the world. ​

Google and other tech companies have been racing to build some form of generative AI into new or existing products.

Last October, the company said it plans to add generative AI features from its Bard chatbot into Google's version of a virtual assistant that aims to provide personalized help with reasoning and generative capabilities on mobile devices.

© Thomson Reuters 2024

Is the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 the best foldable phone you can buy in India right now? We discuss the company's new clamshell-style foldable handset on the latest episode of Orbital, the Gadgets 360 podcast. Orbital is available on Spotify, Gaana, JioSaavn, Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music and wherever you get your podcasts.


from Gadgets 360 https://ift.tt/iH0Tdah
Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Samsung Galaxy S24 Series Pre-Order Details Leak Out; Galaxy S24+ Spotted on Walmart Listing

Samsung Galaxy S24 series is expected to be unveiled on January 17 and past rumours have already given us a fair idea of what to expect from the new flagship phones. The most recent leaks suggest video recording upgrades on the Samsung Galaxy S24, Galaxy S24+, and Galaxy S24 Ultra along with some pre-order perks. The regular models are also tipped to be priced lower than their predecessors. The Galaxy S24 Ultra, in contrast, could see a price jump across all three storage variants. Meanwhile, Walmart accidentally listed the Galaxy S24+ on its online website, whereas Samsung retailers in Brazil have also started teasing the phone ahead of the debut. On X (formerly Twitter), Tipster Ice Universe (@UniverseIce)  posted that Samsung's flagship Galaxy S24 phones will be priced slightly lower than expected. He claimed that Galaxy S24 and Galaxy S24+ stock is large this time as the company is optimistic about the upcoming phones. Further, the Galaxy S24 series is said to offer the abili
Post a Comment
Read more

End-of-Season Savings on Convertible Air Conditioners Starting at Rs. 22,990

Check out Croma's latest deals on Convertible Air Conditioners, with prices starting from just Rs. 22,990. This sale brings together top brands like Voltas, Daikin, and Croma, offering a mix of high-tech features and value for money. Whether you're looking for energy-saving options or models with the latest cooling technology, there's something for everyone. Plus, these ACs are more environmentally friendly. Big discounts on the usual prices and special bank offers make this a great time to upgrade your air conditioner. Croma 4 in 1 Convertible 1.5 Ton 3 Star Inverter Split AC Get the Croma 4 in 1 Convertible AC at a great deal of Rs. 28,990, down from Rs. 42,000. Made for compact spaces, this 3-star, 1.5 Ton AC is efficient and eco-friendly, complete with a PM 2.5 filter. HDFC Bank users can avail themselves of an extra discount, making it an even better bargain. Buy now at: Rs. 28,990 (MRP Rs. 42,000) Voltas 183V Vectra Platina 4 in 1 Convertible 1.5 Ton 3 Star Invert
Post a Comment
Read more

Google Pixel Watch 2 Spotted on Google Play Console; Specifications, Chipset Tipped

Google Pixel Watch 2 is expected to launch soon as the successor to the Google Pixel Watch , which was released in October 2022. The debut Pixel Watch model has a 1.2-inch AMOLED touch display protected by 3D Corning Gorilla Glass 5 and an Exynos 9110 SoC. The watch also claimed to have a battery life of up to 24 hours. However, the upcoming Pixel Watch 2 is expected to include an improved SoC and battery. There have been several rumours about the purported smartwatch. The wearable was reportedly spotted on Google Play Console, where some key specifications were listed. A 9to5Google report says that the Pixel Watch 2 was recently spotted on the Google Play Console. The listing shows some key details of the smart wearable, including its processor, display and software specifications. The report says that the watch is likely to be powered by a Qualcomm SW5100 SoC, which claims to be the Snapdragon W5 chipset, not the W5+ variant. It is also tipped to retain 2GB of RAM from the precedi
Post a Comment
Read more