Amazon Great Summer Sale is here, bringing you massive discounts on the best TV: Expect up to 55% off from top brands
Get ready for the Amazon Great Summer Sale, kicking off on May 1. If you're thinking about upgrading your TV, this is the perfect time to make the move. This year, the sale brings you unbeatable deals on a wide range of the best TVs, featuring the latest advancements in display technology, smart features, and design.
From stunning 4K resolution to immersive sound systems, you'll find everything you need to enhance your viewing experience, all at a discount of up to 55%. Be it a movie buff, gaming enthusiast, or sports fan, there's something for everyone in this Amazon summer sale 2025. Don't miss incredible deals at this Amazon sale 2025 to grab the best smart TVs at discounted prices.
The Redmi F Series 32 inch Smart TV comes with HD Ready clarity with a metal bezel-less design and vivid visuals powered by the Vivid Picture Engine. With Fire OS 7, voice remote with Alexa, and 12,000+ apps including Prime Video, Netflix, and YouTube, it's built for seamless streaming. Enjoy rich sound with Dolby Audio and DTS Virtual:X, plus dual-band Wi-Fi and display mirroring for enhanced connectivity.
Redmi Xiaomi 80 cm (32 inches) F Series HD Ready Smart LED Fire TV L32MA-FVIN (Black)
The LG Smart LED TV brings cinematic visuals home with its 4K Ultra HD display and Filmmaker Mode. Powered by the α5 AI Processor 4K Gen6, it enhances clarity and audio using AI Sound and 4K upscaling. Enjoy endless entertainment via WebOS 23, personalised profiles and OTT apps. With Game Optimizer, ALLM, and Bluetooth Surround Ready, it's built for seamless viewing and gaming.
LG 108 cm (43 inches) 4K Ultra HD Smart LED TV 43UR7500PSC (Dark Iron Gray)
The Sony BRAVIA 2 Series K-43S20B features a 43-inch 4K LED display, offering vivid visuals powered by 4K Processor X1 and Motionflow XR 100 for smooth motion. This Google TV supports Chromecast, Google Assistant, and integrates seamlessly with Apple AirPlay/HomeKit. Enjoy immersive sound from Dolby Audio and 20W Open Baffle Speakers. ALLM, HDR10, and 4K X-Reality PRO enhance gaming and streaming experiences for an immersive viewing experience.
Sony BRAVIA 2 Series 108 cm (43 inches) 4K Ultra HD Smart LED Google TV K-43S20B (Black)
The Samsung 43-inch 4K Ultra HD Smart LED TV features Crystal Processor 4K and 4K Upscaling for stunning visuals. HDR 10+ and UHD Dimming enhance picture quality, while Motion Xcelerator ensures smooth action. The 20W sound output with Q-Symphony and Object Tracking Sound delivers immersive audio. Enjoy smart features along with seamless connectivity through Wi-Fi, HDMI, and USB. Perfect for gaming with Auto Game Mode and VRR.
Samsung 108 cm (43 inches) 4K Ultra HD Smart LED TV UA43DUE70BKLXL (Black)
Dive into a world of stunning visuals and immersive sound with the Acer 55-inch Super Series 4K QLED Google TV. Experience breathtaking picture quality thanks to vibrant QLED technology, sharp 4K Ultra HD resolution, and wide 178° viewing angles. HDR10 and Dolby Vision bring scenes to life with incredible colour and contrast. Feel the power of rich audio with Dolby Atmos and an 80W sound output, driven by a smooth Quad-Core Processor.
Acer 139 cm (55 inches) Super Series 4K Ultra HD Smart QLED Google TV AR55QDXGU2875AT (Black)
Featuring AI Sports Mode, Game Mode Plus, and VRR, the Featuring AI Sports Mode, Game Mode Plus and VRR, the Hisense 65-inch E6N Series 4K Ultra HD Smart LED Google TV offers a 4K Ultra HD resolution with HDR 10 and Dolby Vision. The 24W output speakers with DTS Virtual X and Dolby Digital deliver immersive sound. Enjoy seamless connectivity with Bluetooth 5.3, Wi-Fi, and multiple HDMI/USB ports.
Hisense 164 cm (65 inches) E6N Series 4K Ultra HD Smart LED Google TV 65E6N (Black)
Get sharp 4K resolution and an enhanced picture with Dolby Vision IQ and HDR on the Xiaomi 55-inch X Pro. The 40W speakers deliver immersive Dolby Atmos and DTS-X sound. Google TV provides easy access to apps like Netflix and Prime Video. Connect effortlessly with Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 5.1, and multiple ports. Enjoy convenient voice control and automatic brightness adjustments.
Xiaomi 138 cm (55 inches) X Pro 4K Dolby Vision IQ Series Smart Google LED TV L55M8-5XIN (Black)
The TCL 40-inch Full HD Smart TV boasts a bezel-less design and enhanced picture quality with HDR10, AiPQ Engine, and Micro Dimming. Experience clear audio from its 19W Dolby Audio system. Powered by Android TV with a smooth Quad-Core Processor, 1GB RAM, and 8GB ROM, it supports popular apps like Netflix and Prime Video. Connectivity includes Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, 2 HDMI, and 1 USB, plus handy Screen Sharing and Multi View.
TCL 101 cm (40 inches) Metallic Bezel-Less Full HD Smart Android LED TV 40L4B (Black)
Expect stunning 4K QLED visuals with vibrant colours and HDR10+ support on the Vu 55-inch Vibe Series Google TV. Its integrated 88W soundbar with Voice Clarity and Dolby Audio that provides rich sound. Benefit from a bright IPS panel and AI-powered picture optimisation. Smart features include Google TV, Play Store, ActiVoice remote, special Game and Cricket Modes, along with Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, 3 HDMI, and 2 USB.
Vu 139cm (55 inches) Vibe Series QLED 4K Google TV 55VIBE24 (Black)
The VW 55-inch Pro Series QLED Google TV brings vibrant 4K clarity with smooth visuals supported by ALLM and VRR. Its QLED screen and Full Array Local Dimming enhance colour and contrast. Enjoy immersive sound from the 2.1 channel system with Dolby Atmos. Navigate apps effortlessly via Google TV and voice remote. Multiple ports and wireless options ensure seamless connectivity.
VW 140 cm (55 inches) Pro Series 4K Ultra HD Smart QLED Google TV VW55GQ1 (Black)
Best smart LED TVs: Choose from 10 expert picks to redefine your screen time and home entertainment
Best 65 inch 4K TVs in March 2025: Bring the cinema home with these top 8 picks for breathtaking visuals and great sound
Best TVs under ₹30000 in 2025 with breathtaking 4K clarity, ultra smooth motion, and smart tech for next level viewing
Best 4K TVs: Experience crystal-clear brilliance for next-level entertainment with our top 10 picks from renowned brands
Best smart TVs in India: Top 10 picks for great picture quality, smart features, and a seamless entertainment experience
Generally no. The smart features are integrated. However, you can still use external devices if you prefer their interface or app selection.
Yes, smart TVs have HDMI ports for connecting cable boxes, gaming consoles, Blu-ray players, and USB ports for external drives
Yes, with on-screen instructions for connecting to Wi-Fi and apps.
Most have a built-in web browser, but functionality varies.
Disclaimer: At Hindustan Times, we help you stay up-to-date with the latest trends and products. Hindustan Times has an affiliate partnership, so we may get a part of the revenue when you make a purchase. We shall not be liable for any claim under applicable laws, including but not limited to the Consumer Protection Act, 2019, with respect to the products. The products listed in this article are in no particular order of priority.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
6 hours ago
- Time of India
Amazon ‘deadline' to employees, Donald Trump phone, Elon Musk's Starlink in India; Intel layoffs and other top tech news of the week
This week in tech saw major developments across the globe, from corporate shakeups to new product launches. has reportedly issued a tight 30-day relocation deadline to several employees, with a 60-day ultimatum to resign if they refuse—raising concerns among its workforce. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now In the US, President Donald Trump's family entered the smartphone market with a made-in-America device. Meanwhile, 's Starlink finally got the green light to begin operations in India. Intel also announced large-scale layoffs, affecting over 10,000 employees, without severance. And in the AI space, OpenAI's Sam Altman took a dig at Meta for offering huge bonuses to attract talent. All this and more in this week's top tech news: Amazon gives employees 30 days 'deadline' to …. or resign in 60 days Amazon is ordering thousands of corporate employees to relocate to major city hubs including Seattle, Arlington, and Washington DC, reports Bloomberg, creating upheaval for workers already facing job insecurity and AI-driven workforce reductions. Employees are given just 30 days to decide whether to relocate, followed by 60 days to either begin the relocation process or resign without severance. The relocation mandate affects employees across multiple teams, according to the report, with some required to move across the country to be closer to their managers. Workers are being informed through one-on-one meetings and town halls rather than company-wide announcements, according to sources familiar with the situation. Click here to know more "We hear from the majority of our teammates that they love the energy from being located together, and whenever someone chooses to or is asked to relocate, we work with them to offer support based on their individual circumstances," an Amazon spokesperson said. Donald Trump launches made in America smartphone, Trump T1 Mobile: Price and specifications of phone with Gold colour casing US President Donald Trump's business empire expanded into telecommunications Monday with the launch of Trump Mobile's T1 smartphone, featuring "made in America" manufacturing and domestic customer support centers, according to Reuters. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now "We've partnered with some of the greatest people in the industry to make sure that real Americans get true value from their mobile carriers," Trump Jr. said. The announcement came on the 10-year anniversary of Trump's 2016 presidential campaign launch. The venture, unveiled by Donald Trump Jr. and Eric Trump at Trump Tower in New York, positions itself as an alternative to major carriers while capitalizing on the Trump brand's appeal to conservative consumers. The service will operate as a Mobile Virtual Network Operator, purchasing network capacity from the three major U.S. wireless providers. Intel to layoff 10,000+ employees, and why none of them will be getting any severance Intel is preparing to lay off between 15% and 20% of its Intel Foundry workforce beginning in July, marking one of the largest job cuts in the semiconductor giant's history. The layoffs are expected to affect more than 10,000 employees worldwide, representing roughly one-fifth of the company's manufacturing division. Unlike previous rounds of job cuts, Intel will not offer voluntary buyouts or early retirement packages, instead selecting workers based on performance evaluations and strategic investment priorities across its global manufacturing operations. "These are difficult actions but essential to meet our affordability challenges and current financial position of the company. It drives pain to every individual," Intel Manufacturing Vice President Naga Chandrasekaran wrote in an internal memo to employees over the weekend, as seen by The Oregonian. Elon Musk's Starlink gets approval to launch India operations: Expected price, hardware requirement and more Starlink, the satellite internet service owned by Elon Musk's SpaceX, has officially secured operating rights in India, a development confirmed by union minister for communications, Jyotiraditya Scindia, on social media platform X (formerly Twitter). This approval essentially means that Starlink can now provide its services in the competitive Indian telecommunications market. The confirmation follows a "productive meeting" between Scindia and SpaceX president and COO Gwynne Shotwell. Their discussions, as detailed by Scindia on X, "delved into opportunities for collaboration in satellite communications to power Digital India's soaring ambitions and empower every citizen across the country." OpenAI CEO Sam Altman says Mark Zuckerberg not creating the right culture by giving huge compensation packages as, … OpenAI CEO Sam Altman has publicly criticised Meta Platforms' aggressive talent recruitment tactics, revealing that the company offered signing bonuses of up to $100 million to poach top OpenAI engineers—but failed to win them over. Speaking at the Uncapped podcast hosted by his brother, Altman suggested that such extravagant compensation packages does not promote 'right work culture'and are not good for the long-term success in the filed of artificial intelligence. He also agreed to the fact that Meta sees OpenAI as a primary competitor in the race of AI. According to Sam Altman's recent remarks, Meta made substantial offers, some reportedly as high as $100 million, in attempts to lure away key talent from OpenAI. Despite these staggering figures, Altman claimed that Meta largely "tried and failed" to poach his employees. Upset with Jeff Bezos-Lauren Sanchez wedding, angry Venetians say: Will line the streets with our bodies, block … Amazon co-founder Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez are all set to tie knot on June 24. The $10 million wedding will take place in Venice, Italy. However, the lavish wedding is facing a lot of backlash and protest from angry Venetians. As reported by New York Times, local residents are escalating their protests and promising to take some drastic measures to disrupt the most-talked wedding. Federica Toninello, a protest organizer told NYT that Bezos will never get to reach Misericordia and revealed that nearly 300 people are present to disrupt his path. At a public gathering near the Rialto Bridge, protesters declared their intent to 'line the streets with our bodies' and 'block the canals with lifesavers and boats' during the wedding festivities scheduled for June 24–26. The $10 million celebration, planned on the island of San Giorgio Maggiore, has triggered protests over blocked streets, luxury hotel takeovers, and environmental concerns, threatening to disrupt the Floating City during its peak tourist season. Genpact to employees: Follow 10-hour workday 'mandate' or face performance review Genpact has implemented a new policy requiring a 10-hour workday for its employees, which will be effective mid-June, a report claims. Employees who fail to comply with this mandate may reportedly face performance reviews. However, the policy does not include a corresponding increase in base salary, the report adds. According to a report by The Hindu, the tech and services company will track employee productivity through an internal tool that will monitor their daily active hours. Employees meeting the required hours can reportedly earn up to 500 points monthly, which will be equivalent to Rs 3,000 in incentives. The report also adds that an additional 5% bonus, which is nearly Rs 150, will be paid to employees for any extra time logged beyond the 10-hour mandate. Redmi Pad 2 launched in India: Price, specifications and all you need to know Xiaomi India has launched the Redmi Pad 2 aimed at meeting users' needs of entertainment, and everyday productivity. The comany says that the tablet gets segment's best features, such as 11-inch 2.5K display, a 9000mAh battery, MediaTek Helio G100 Ultra SoC and Xiaomi HyperOS 2. Redmi Pad 2 series price starts at Rs 13,999 and will be available in multiple variants. The tablet can be purchased in Graphote Gray and Mint Green colours from Amazon, Flipkart, and authorized retail stores. OnePlus Bullets Wireless Z3 debuts in India with Bluetooth 5.4 and 3D Spatial Audio: Price, features and more OnePlus has launched the Bullets Wireless Z3, a wireless neckband offering in India today. The neckband comes equipped with fast charging, long battery life, and AI-powered features. OnePlus Bullets Wireless Z3 supports Bluetooth 5.4, voice assistant control along with 3D Spatial Audio. The company says that the device is designed for everyday use, including calls, music, and workouts. The Bullets Wireless Z3 is priced at Rs 1,699. It will be available starting June 24, 2025, at 12 PM. It can be purchased via Flipkart, Myntra, OnePlus Experience Stores, in addition to leading offline retailers including Croma, Reliance, Vijay Sales , and Bajaj Electronics. Oppo A5 5G smartphone will military grade certification, 6,000 mAh battery launched in India, price starts at Rs 15,499 Oppo A5 5G is now official. Oppo has launched its latest A-series smartphone — Oppo A5 5G in India. The smartphone comes with military grade certification and is backed by a 6000 mAh battery. Oppo A5 5G sports an HD+ display and is powered by a MediaTek chipset. Oppo A5 is presently available on Oppo India Online store. The smartphone comes in two variants — 6GB+128GB and 8GB+128GB priced at Rs 15,499 and Rs 16,999 respectively. The smartphone comes in Aurora Green and Mist White colour options. Vivo Y400 Pro with 32MP front camera, IP65 rating and 5,500 mAh battery launched in India: Price, specs and more Vivo Y400 Pro is now official. Vivo has expanded its Y-series of smartphones with the launch of Vivo Y400 Pro in India. Vivo Y400 Pro sports a 6.77-inch AMOLED display and a 32MP front camera. The smartphone is powered by an octa-core MediaTek Dimensity chipset and is backed by a 5,500 mAh battery. 'With the Y400 Pro, we aim to redefine what consumers expect from a mid-range smartphone. The Y400 Pro embodies everything that our user stands for – style, substance, and performance, all in one sleek device,' said the company. Vivo Y400 Pro comes in two variants — 8GB+128GB and 8GB+256GB priced at Rs 24,999 and Rs 26,999 respectively. The smartphone can be purchased in Freestyle White, Fest Gold and Nebula Purple colour options. The smartphone will go on sale starting June 27 on Flipkart, Vivo India online store and offline on authorised stores in the country. iQoo Z10 Lite with 6,000 mAh battery, IP64 rating launched in India: Price, specs and more iQoo Z10 Lite 5G smartphone is here. Chinese smartphone maker iQoo has added a new smartphone to its Z series with the launch of iQoo Z10 Lite 5G. The affordable smartphone is backed by a 6000 mAh battery and comes with IP64 rating. The iQoo Z10 Elite 5G is powered by a MediaTek chipset and runs Android 15 operating systems. The company has also promised that the smartphone will receive two years of OS update and 3 years of security updates. ''With the iQOO Z10 Lite, we set out to build a phone that truly understands the lifestyle of young India. Whether it's binge-watching, or staying active on social media—this 5G smartphone is designed to keep up,' said the company. iQoo Z10 Lite 5G comes in three variants — 4GB+128GB, 6GB+128GB and 8GB+128GB priced at Rs 9,999, Rs 10,999 and Rs 12,999 respectively. The smartphone can be purchased in Titanium Blue and Cyber Green colour options. The smartphone will go on sale starting June 25 on and iQoo India e-Store. As part of the launch offers, iQoo is giving instant discount of Rs 500 on SBI bank credit and debit card. Realme Narzo 80 lite 5G smartphone with 6000 mAh battery, 32MP rear camera launched: Price, specs and more Realme Narzo 80 Lite 5G is here. Realme has expanded its Narzo smartphone lineup with the launch of Narzo 80 Lite 5G smartphone in India. The affordable Realme smartphone houses an HD+ display and is powered by a MediaTek Dimensity chipset. Realme Narzo 80 Lite 5G is backed by a 6000 mAh battery and it comes with IP64 rating. ' 'With a perfect blend of powerful hardware, smart software features and robust durability, this device brings top-tier technology like the MediaTek Dimensity 6300 5G chipset, massive 6000mAh battery, military-grade shock resistance and IP64 protection to millions of young users at an accessible price point,' said the company. Realme Narzo 80 Lite 5G comes in two variants — 4GB+128GB and 6GB+128GB priced at Rs 10,499 and Rs 11,499 respectively. The smartphone will of on sale starting June 23. Customers can purchase the smartphone in Crystal Purple and Onyx Black colour options online from and Asus launches four new AI-powered Vivobook S series laptops in India Asus has launched four new AI-powered laptops in its Vivobook S series across India, targeting students, professionals, and content creators, promising to deliver next-generation performance capabilities with premium thin-and-light designs. The lineup includes the Vivobook S14 (S3407QA) starting at Rs 74,990, Vivobook S14 (S3407CA) at Rs 80,990, Vivobook S16 OLED (S3607CA) at Rs 82,990, and Vivobook S16 (S3607VA) at Rs 69,990. All models feature sandwich metal construction, backlit ErgoSense keyboards with dedicated Copilot keys, smart gesture touchpads, and Dolby Atmos-certified audio systems. Philips Hair Dryer 8000 with ThermoShield Advanced sensors launched in India, priced at Rs 19,995 Philips has expanded its grooming product lineup with the launch of Philips Hair Dryer 8000. The premium hair care product is powered by BLDC (Brushless DC Motor) technology and enhanced with ThermoShield Advanced sensors. The company claims that the hair dryer deliver ultra-stable airflow and precise temperature control to protect hair from heat damage. The Philips Hair Dryer 8000 comes with a price tag of Rs 19,995 and it can be purchased online from and and offline retail stores like Chroma, Vijay Sales and Reliance Digital. Google launches Gemini-powered Search Live feature in AI mode: Here's how it works Google has officially launched Search Live, a new voice-activated feature that allows users to have conversational, back-and-forth interactions with Google Search through the company's mobile app. Available now for Android and iOS users in the United States who have opted into the AI Mode experiment in Labs, the feature transforms traditional search into a spoken dialogue powered by Gemini, a custom version of the AI model. Users can access Search Live by tapping a new "Live" icon in the Google app and verbally asking questions. The system responds with AI-generated audio answers and provides relevant web links on screen. The conversation remains active, allowing natural follow-up questions without restarting the search process. For example, users can ask about packing tips for travel and seamlessly follow up with specific questions about preventing wrinkles or organizing luggage.
India.com
6 hours ago
- India.com
Bad news for employees of this company as it plans to sack over 1000 employees, not Narayana Murthy's Infosys, TCS, Google, IBM
(Representational image: freepik) New Delhi: American multinational corporation and IT giant Microsoft Corporation will cut more than 1000 jobs as the conglomerate is rearranging its staff to support its ambitious Artificial Intelligence initiatives. This will be Microsoft's third significant layoff wave of 2025. Most of the jobs that will be eliminated in early July will be from the sales department. Microsoft's new fiscal year This particular time of early July coincides with the beginning of the company's new fiscal year, according to Bloomberg and the Times of India. As mentioned above, Microsoft is reshuffling its staff to support its ambitious Artificial Intelligence initiatives for which it is doubling down on efficiency and strategic realignment as AI investments mount up. Sales Division in third round of layoffs This third round of layoffs is considerably more focused on customer-facing positions than the earlier two rounds, which were mainly focused on engineers and developers. The most affected would be the employees in Sales and Marketing department which accounts for about 45,000 of Microsoft's 228,000 workers. In the first two rounds of layoffs, Microsoft fired around 2,300 employees in Washington this year. Earlier in 2023, the company had fired 3,200 people, which was the biggest layoffs round. Reportedly, Microsoft had dropped a hint about this move in June 2024 as it relieved 1,000 mixed-reality and Azure roles. Apart from that, the company started selling software to outside companies in April as it concentrated on small and mid-sized business sectors. Experts say that apart from the sales positions, other departments might also be impacted. In May, the company had laid off more than 6,000 people in a 3% cut of its workforce. Out of which 1,985 employees affected were from Washington. Investments in realm of Artificial Intelligence In the proverbial 'keeping up with the times' and adapting to current trends, Microsoft is now emphasising more on AI as it tries to stay ahead in a fast-changing technology landscape. The tech giant is investing heavily into data centres and AI research to support growing demand from businesses that are adopting AI tools and services. The Bloomberg report further said that Microsoft has planned capital expenditure of around Rs 6.6 lakh crore ($80 billion) for the ongoing financial year. A big chunk of this expenditure will go into expanding data centre infrastructure as the aim is to reduce pressure on existing facilities that support AI services. Layoffs in the tech sector are continuously troubling IT professionals. Recently, Amazon CEO Andy Jassy has warned that the integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) within the corporate workforce will eventually lead to job cuts. After the COVID-19 pandemic, big tech companies like Amazon, Meta and Google laid off thousands of workers to reduce their staff. Now, another tech giant, Microsoft, has given a live, sombre, and somewhat gloomy presentation.
Indian Express
10 hours ago
- Indian Express
Are buyouts the new layoffs? Why big tech is quietly paying workers to leave
With no signs of layoffs slowing down, the tech industry is undergoing a seismic shift. In recent months, big tech companies have been axing jobs faster and quieter than ever. During the pandemic, terms like 'quiet quitting' and 'rage applying' entered the HR glossary, reflecting how employee-employer dynamics were rapidly evolving. Companies of all sizes laid off millions worldwide in highly publicised waves. But the current spate of layoffs seems different. What was once cloaked in drama and headline-grabbing layoffs seems to be becoming quick and discrete. The layoffs today are swift and subtle; companies are implementing voluntary buyout programmes that allow them to reduce headcounts and at the same time maintain a semblance of stability. Each layoff by big tech is followed by verbose justification that does very little to conceal the abject reality of the situation – people are losing jobs. Based on recent reports, economists are estimating that about one-third of resignations in Silicon Valley this year may not be voluntary but negotiated with compensation. Big tech like Google and Amazon have been reportedly paying extra weeks of salary to discreetly sack those deemed 'misaligned' employees. This signals a fundamental shift in how the tech industry is managing workforce reduction at a time when AI is rapidly advancing and virtually taking over newer domains of work that once needed human expertise. Looking at the last few years, tech companies have experimented with almost every method in the book to reduce their workforce. While earlier approaches included sudden mass layoffs, performance improvement schemes aimed at forcing resignations, and even hiring freezes for extended periods of time, things are changing now. Instead of ostentatious layoffs that would likely lead to negative publicity and likely legal challenges, big tech seems to be resorting to voluntary exit packages or buyouts that are discreet. Buyouts are when a company offers a voluntary severance package to employees, encouraging them to leave jobs. Google seems to be leading this shift. Earlier this month, it was reported that the Alphabet Inc. company was offering buyouts to staff across several divisions. This time the company did not reveal the number of employees impacted. These buyouts were offered to employees from knowledge and information, central engineering units, and even from the core search and advertising units which are critical to the company's profits. According to an internal memo to staff, Google executive Nick Fox informed that employees who were not meeting expectations may want to take the buyout, and those who are excited by their work will continue with the company. The buyout from Google seems to be offering generous severance packages to employees considered misaligned with its AI-focused roadmap. This comes after Google's massive layoffs in 2023 that impacted over 12,000 employees. Even though they are quiet, the scale of these layoffs remains massive. According to a site that tracks tech layoffs in real realtime, so far 141 tech companies have laid off 62,832 employees in the first half of 2025. While the volume of layoffs hasn't changed much, what has changed indeed is the pace. From one-day mass layoffs to now, the industry has adopted a workforce reduction that is essentially spread over months. And these come dressed in fineries such as 'workforce realignment', 'organisational restructuring', 'talent mobility', etc. Google launched its voluntary exit programme earlier this year, and it was reportedly aimed at around 25,000 employees who were involved with developing the company's operating systems. As part of the programme, eligible US-based employees would receive around 14 weeks of base pay plus one additional week for each year of service, along with accelerating stock vesting (a process where an employee gains full rights over their stock options of shares offered by the company) and six months of health coverage. The programme seems to be expanding steadily, as earlier this month it was extended to the Knowledge and Information group that has about 20,000 employees. From Google's perspective, employees who accept buyouts are statistically less productive under the AI-centric approach. Moreover, the cost of severance packages is lower than keeping 'misaligned' employees on payroll forever. Reportedly, voluntary exits facilitate staff cuts with minimal hassle, as they involve less documentation, almost no lawsuits, and a defined exit budget. It is not just Google; more companies are following suit. Reportedly, Microsoft is offering 16 weeks of salary to low-performing employees who opt for voluntary exit. On the other hand, Amazon was among the first to introduce a three-month salary package to employees resisting work-from-office mandates. While there is a cost to companies with buyouts, big tech seems to be viewing these voluntary exits as more profitable than forced resignations, which could also lead to lawsuits, demoralisation among staff, and damage to goodwill and reputation. For companies the rationale moves beyond cost savings. Some experts feel that severance packages could free up the budget to hire AI talent that require premium pay packages. Reportedly, Microsoft pays AI engineers up to $375,000 annually, which is substantially higher than standard developers. For senior staff, buyouts afford them the resources they need during the job search. However, younger staff with minimal tenure receive smaller severance packages and are thrust into an oversaturated market. Employees accepting buyouts may be higher, since there is a lack of clarity on exact numbers. For high-performing employees, these severance packages may help them embark on their startup journeys. While buyout packages allow companies to cut costs while maintaining employee morale, their risks include uneven loss of critical talent and disruption in alignments within teams. As of today, there are AI-driven efficiency pressures, and more roles seem to be becoming obsolete, pushing companies to push for voluntary exits. This could signal a future of lean hybrid workforces with fewer permanent roles, and continuous reskilling and employee adaptability becoming a necessity. With AI continuing to automate various functions, companies will be compelled to reconfigure their workforces. In an alternative scenario, if talent becomes scarce, companies may have to switch back to retention packages. This quiet restructuring is changing thousands of career paths, yet its true scale remains largely invisible. Bijin Jose, an Assistant Editor at Indian Express Online in New Delhi, is a technology journalist with a portfolio spanning various prestigious publications. Starting as a citizen journalist with The Times of India in 2013, he transitioned through roles at India Today Digital and The Economic Times, before finding his niche at The Indian Express. With a BA in English from Maharaja Sayajirao University, Vadodara, and an MA in English Literature, Bijin's expertise extends from crime reporting to cultural features. With a keen interest in closely covering developments in artificial intelligence, Bijin provides nuanced perspectives on its implications for society and beyond. ... Read More
