Google cutting half its R&D projects

[Jan]

Google bins half its research projects

Google is cutting half of its research and development (R&D) projects, which could result in significant job cuts, TechCrunch reports.

The tech giant has confirmed that it is binning projects at its R&D division, known as Area 120, and it informed staff of a "reduction in force" on Tuesday, 13 September 2022.

 

[Sapphiron]

Depression incoming.

 

[backstreetboy]

Pinchai’s

You mean Pichai's?

 

[RonSwanson]

Tough times ahead, batten down the hatches.

 

[Thor]

So they are shifting to AI only.

Neat

 

[noxibox]

According to the article Google employs around 170,000 people and of those about 100 are in Area 120. Thus even if the entire division were closed it would be a tiny reduction in staff. But it isn't even a reduction since Google continues to hire and those in Area 120 can apply for a different position in the company.

Maybe down the line Google will cut staff and then they can be presented as the poster child of a depression, but for now they, like most of the other technology companies, are not.