Google is currently focusing on using artificial intelligence (AI) to reduce costs. In line with this strategy, YouTube, the company’s video platform, has laid off 100 employees from its operations and creator-management teams who help millions of content creators on the platform. This is in addition to the over 1,000 jobs that were cut last week at Google.
Sundar Pichai, Google’s CEO, has warned employees to expect more job cuts in 2024. According to a memo obtained by The Verge, Pichai indicated that Google will focus on “removing layers to simplify execution and drive velocity” in certain areas. However, he also clarified that the scale of job cuts will not be the same as last year, nor will it impact all teams.
Before the latest cuts, YouTube had a workforce of about 7,137 employees. The affected employees were informed of the cuts by Mary Ellen Coe, YouTube’s chief business officer, via email.
Over the past year, a decline in advertising revenue has affected YouTube’s finances, while competition from TikTok, a popular short-video service, has intensified. This has led to Google seeking ways to cut costs.
Last week’s layoff announcement affected jobs in Google Assistant, the company’s voice-operated product, its core engineering division, and its augmented reality (AR) projects. Google has been undergoing organizational changes for some time, resulting in the elimination of many roles worldwide.
YouTube plans to make significant investments in larger priorities and better opportunities.
