San Francisco, April 11, 2025 – Google laid off hundreds of employees from its Android and Pixel hardware groups Thursday, the latest chop in a cost-cutting spree rocking the tech giant’s California HQ. The purge, confirmed via staff memos leaked to NDTV, hit software engineers and product managers—some with a decade under their belts—as Alphabet doubles down on efficiency post a shaky Q1 earnings dip.
The cuts, pegged at 5-10% of the teams, follow January’s 1,000-plus layoffs across AI and ad units (Reuters). “We’re sharpening focus—streamlining for impact,” a Google spokesperson told The Indian Express, dodging exact numbers. Hardest hit? Android’s open-source crew and Pixel’s design squad, just as the Pixel 9a’s mid-2025 launch looms. Insiders say it’s panic mode—Q1 revenue grew 14%, but Wall Street’s 16% forecast loomed larger (Bloomberg).
Employees got the axe via email—30 minutes’ notice, then out. “Ten years, and I’m junked like code,” a sacked coder posted on X, where shock’s trending: “Google’s bleeding talent!” Posts flag Trump’s 104% China tariffs too—Pixel parts from Shenzhen face cost hikes, pushing Google to lean on India’s Foxconn shift (Hindustan Times). But the timing stings—Android 15’s rollout’s live, and morale’s tanking.
India’s watching—Google’s Bengaluru hub, with 3,000 staff, dodged this round, but 2024’s 500 job adds there might slow (Times of India). “They’re pruning to please shareholders,” an analyst said—Alphabet’s stock dipped 2% Thursday. Yet, rivals like Apple, airlifting iPhones, smell blood. This isn’t just a trim—it’s a signal: even giants wobble. Will Google rebound, or keep slashing its soul?
