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Google Plans Thousands of Layoffs in Advertising and Customer Service Sector to Redirect Focus to Artificial Intelligence.
As the new year begins, Google is intensifying its focus on advancing artificial intelligence (AI) technologies, encompassing not only the development of external applications but also promoting a significant restructuring of its internal operations. As reported by CNBC, this includes thousands of layoffs as part of a strategic shift within the company.
More Than 30,000 Layoffs Will Make Way for Artificial Intelligence
To support its plans, Google, the tech giant, is looking to reorganize much of its advertising sales department, leading to more than 30,000 employee layoffs. The countries where the cuts will take place have not yet been disclosed.
According to data from The Information, the Google layoffs are part of a strategic move to increase investments in artificial intelligence techniques and machine learning to help clients purchase even more ads on its search engine, YouTube, and other services. The technology is capable of automatically suggesting and creating high-performing ads without the need for human workers to perform these tasks.
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Giant lays off nearly 3,000 employees, closes offices, assumes costs of up to $340 million, and increasingly bets on artificial intelligence, a move that shook investors and drove down shares in the United States.
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A Brazilian would need almost five minimum wages combined to support a family with dignity, according to the calculation by Dieese, which indicates R$ 7,612.49 as necessary for a family of four, while the official minimum wage does not exceed R$ 1,621.
A person unfamiliar with the subject revealed that these ads are expected to generate tens of billions of dollars annually in revenue for the company. As the media highlighted, Google’s bets on artificial intelligence go beyond ad sales, also encompassing customer support services.
According to data, the expectation is that the integration of AI in customer support will directly influence the human aspects of the company’s operations. This strategic shift aligns with previous instances of Google personnel layoffs at the beginning of last year, which attracted attention and studies.
Google Makes Billion-Dollar Investment in Artificial Intelligence
Google laid off 12,000 employees about a year ago, 6.4% of the company’s workforce. At the time, the company’s CEO, Sundar Pichai, stated that the decision was a result of the drastic change in the economic landscape worldwide.
The executive stated that the layoffs marked a moment for the company to sharpen its focus, restructure its cost base, and direct talent and capital to higher priorities, adding that artificial intelligence would be a key area moving forward.
About three months ago, the company highlighted that it would make an investment of up to US$ 2 billion in Anthropic, an artificial intelligence startup, rivaling OpenAI, the owner of ChatGPT. According to media reports, the agreement stipulates an initial investment of US$ 500 million and an additional US$ 1.5 billion to be invested over time.
Google had already poured nearly US$ 400 million into the company months prior, ramping up its efforts to compete with Microsoft, one of the main supporters of OpenAI, and intensifying the race for generative artificial intelligence solutions.
Dangers of Artificial Intelligence
Despite being a major promise for the future, there are some risks that AIs may bring. Among them is privacy violation, as internet user data is used to train generative AIs.
Another risk is that algorithms used in AI systems, when trained by humans, disseminate biases and increase inequalities. There is a social and ethical risk that society must be aware of and educated about the impact this can have.
The lack of transparency in AI systems is another point to be analyzed, as in deep learning models, which can be complex and difficult to interpret, this is a complex issue. This opacity obscures the decision-making processes and the underlying logic of these technologies.
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