Google is offering employee buyouts in Search and other orgs

Google is starting to offer buyouts to US-based employees in its sprawling Search organization, along with other divisions like marketing, research, and core engineering, according to multiple employees familiar with the matter.

The buyouts, which Google is referring to as a “voluntary exit program,” are currently not being offered to employees in the DeepMind AI division, Google Cloud, YouTube, or Google’s central ad sales organization. Employees in Google’s platforms and services group, which includes Android and the Pixel line of devices, were offered buyouts earlier this year before the company enacted layoffs. It’s unclear if more layoffs will follow this week’s buyout announcement. Employees are being offered a minimum of 14 weeks’ pay with a July 1st enrollment deadline.

Other parts of Google, including YouTube, are also requiring US employees within a 50-mile radius of an office to return to work at least three days a week by September, or be laid off with severance.

“It’s been an incredible few months -- we shared our vision at I/O and GML, and we’ve been shipping at a dizzying pace,” Nick Fox, the head of Google’s wider “Knowledge and Information” group that includes Search, said in an internal memo I obtained. “We’ve seen a super positive response to AI Mode including our shopping announcements, heard excitement about our new ads experiences directly from businesses, and are bringing Maps to cutting-edge new surfaces like Gemini Live and XR glasses.”

“It’s been intense – but also intensely fun and energizing – and I’ve seen and heard the same from many of you,” I took on this role to lead K&I because I believe there’s no better place to transform the lives of billions of users through this AI moment. This is the opportunity of a lifetime -- and it’s here right now.“

The Information first reported on the buyouts hitting the Search org.

This story is developing…