New York Post·2025-04-11 17:01Group 1 - Alphabet, Google's parent company, has laid off hundreds of employees in its platforms and devices division, which includes teams working on Android, Chrome, Google Photos, and hardware products like Pixel, Fitbit, and Nest [1][3] - The layoffs are part of a restructuring effort aimed at making the company more nimble and effective, following the combination of platforms and devices teams last year [2][3] - In January, Google offered voluntary buyout packages to employees in the same division, with approvals communicated by March 25 [3][4] Group 2 - In 2023, Google has laid off approximately 12,000 employees, representing about 6% of its total workforce, which now stands at around 180,000 globally [4] - The company is focusing on cost-cutting measures and reallocating resources towards the development of advanced AI technologies [4][5] - Other tech companies, such as Meta, have also reduced their workforces recently, indicating a broader trend in the industry [4]