Google Layoffs Over 100 Design Jobs Amid AI-Focused Restructuring

According to a CNBC story, Google has let go of over 100 workers in design-related positions. Employees in the cloud division’s “platform and service experience” and “quantitative user experience research” teams, as well as a few other departments, were impacted by the layoffs that occurred earlier this week.

These positions are renowned for using data, surveys, and research to analyse user behaviour in order to inform product design. According to the report, many of the job losses affected US-based staff, and some cloud design teams saw their numbers cut in half. Some impacted employees have been given until the beginning of December to look for other positions within Google.

Layoffs Part of Google’s Restructuring Programme

The most recent round of layoffs is a component of Google’s continuous reorganisation as it makes greater strides towards artificial intelligence. The business has been investing more in AI infrastructure and reallocating resources from some positions to those it believes are more important for expansion.

More than 200 contractors who worked on AI tools like Gemini and AI Overviews were also let go, according to an article published by Wired last month. Workers’ worries about poor pay, job insecurity, and escalating conflicts between employees and management were brought to light in that report. Some workers claimed that protests over working conditions were the reason behind the job losses.

The design teams’ layoffs are not an isolated incident. In order to concentrate on areas that are essential to our business and secure our long-term success, Google cut employees in its cloud division earlier this year.

Google Making Small Changes to Improve Collaborations

Google stated in remarks to Reuters that it is implementing “small changes” across all teams to enhance customer service and teamwork. However, a variety of departments have been impacted by these developments. Employees in the fields of human resources, hardware, search, advertising, marketing, finance, and commerce have been eligible for voluntary leave packages since the start of 2025.

Additionally, Google has been reducing the number of management tiers. Reports state that the organisation has cut middle managers—especially those in charge of small teams—by more than a third. The company’s ambition to expedite decision-making and optimise operations while allocating resources to AI development is reflected in the restructuring. Google is still one of the biggest employers in the tech industry in spite of the layoffs.

According to a February regulatory filing, the corporation has 183,323 employees as of December 2024. The recent layoffs are a part of a larger trend in the tech sector, where a number of businesses are laying off employees in order to minimise expenses and redirect funds to automation and artificial intelligence.