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Time of India
11-06-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Google offers buyouts to employees who 'aren't feeling excited about …
Google is offering buyouts to thousands of US-based employees across multiple divisions, including its sprawling Search organization and core engineering teams, as the tech giant continues its cost-cutting efforts amid massive AI investments. The "Voluntary Exit Program" targets employees in Google's Knowledge and Information group, which houses Search, ads and commerce operations, along with marketing, research, and core engineering divisions. Nick Fox, head of Google's Knowledge and Information group, said in an internal memo obtained by The Verge that the program offers "a supportive exit path for those of you who don't feel aligned with our strategy, don't feel energized by your work, or are having difficulty meeting the expectations of your role." Google's buyout offer is latest in the series of workforce reduction The buyouts represent Google's preferred method of reducing headcount following backlash from its January 2023 layoffs that eliminated 12,000 positions. Multiple divisions have offered similar voluntary exit programs throughout 2024 and 2025, including the Pixel and Android units earlier this year. Jen Fitzpatrick, Senior Vice President of Core Systems, explained in a separate memo viewed by Business Insider that "we've seen positive feedback across the company in other orgs who have offered similar programs." She added that the voluntary program "may be a fit for Core Googlers who aren't feeling excited about and aligned with Core's mission and goals." Fox emphasized that high-performing employees should remain, stating: "If you're excited about your work, energized by the opportunity ahead, and performing well, I really (really!) hope you don't take this! We have ambitious plans and tons to get done." Strategic cost-cutting amid continued engineering hiring The voluntary exit programs align with finance chief Anat Ashkenazi's October statement that driving cost cutting would be a top priority as Google expands AI infrastructure spending in 2025. And the same is happening this year as the company balances reducing operational costs with maintaining talent in critical areas. Despite the widespread buyouts, CEO Sundar Pichai recently reaffirmed Google's commitment to continue hiring engineers through 2026, positioning AI as "an accelerator" rather than a replacement for human talent. Speaking at the Bloomberg Tech conference, Pichai emphasized that the company expects to "grow from our current engineering base even into next year" to capitalize on emerging technology opportunities. This dual approach suggests Google is selectively reducing headcount in certain divisions while simultaneously investing in AI-focused engineering talent, reflecting the company's broader strategy to streamline operations while maintaining competitive advantage in artificial intelligence development. AI Masterclass for Students. Upskill Young Ones Today!– Join Now
Time of India
08-06-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Elon Musk-Donald Trump fights, Nintendo Switch 2 launches, Apple WWDC looms, and other top tech news this week
The tech industry witnessed dramatic developments this week, from a spectacular public falling-out between President Trump and Elon Musk that threatens billions in federal subsidies, to Nintendo's Switch 2 console launch creating massive consumer frenzy with sold-out pre-orders. Meanwhile, Google CEO Sundar Pichai bucked industry trends by promising continued engineering hiring through 2026, even as Microsoft cut another 300 jobs following last month's 6,000-person layoff. Apple 's WWDC 2025 kicks off next week with anticipated major iOS and AI updates, while Meta secured a 20-year nuclear power deal to fuel its AI ambitions, highlighting the week's mix of corporate drama, product launches, and the ongoing AI transformation reshaping Big Tech. After friendship, Elon Musk and Donald Trump fights publicly After a friendship that began during Trump's 2024 presidential campaign when Musk publicly endorsed him following an assassination attempt, the relationship between President Donald Trump and Tesla CEO Elon Musk has dramatically deteriorated into a public feud. Their alliance, which saw Musk appointed as co-lead of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) after Trump's election victory, began unraveling in May 2025 when Musk criticized Trump's signature spending bill as a "disgusting abomination." The conflict exploded into the open on June 5, 2025, when the former allies exchanged a series of bitter insults on social media, with Musk claiming "Trump would have lost the election" without him and making explosive allegations about Trump's connection to Jeffrey Epstein , while Trump threatened to terminate billions in federal subsidies for Musk's companies. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Giao dịch vàng CFDs với mức chênh lệch giá thấp nhất IC Markets Đăng ký Undo The public breakdown of their relationship reached a tipping point when Trump admitted during an Oval Office press conference that he was "very disappointed" in Musk and didn't know if their friendship could be salvaged, even reportedly deciding to sell the Tesla he had purchased just months earlier during their alliance. Google CEO Sundar Pichai says that he'll keep hiring engineers Google CEO Sundar Pichai has announced that the tech giant will continue expanding its engineering workforce through 2026, positioning the company against widespread industry fears about AI-driven job displacement. Speaking at the Bloomberg Tech conference, Pichai emphasized that artificial intelligence serves as "an accelerator" rather than a replacement for human talent, enabling Google to pursue greater opportunities in emerging technology sectors like Waymo autonomous vehicles, quantum computing, and YouTube's global expansion. This hiring commitment stands in stark contrast to competitors like Microsoft, which have cut thousands of positions to fund AI investments, and even Google's own recent history of laying off 12,000 employees in 2023 with additional reductions following. Microsoft cuts 300 more jobs after laying off 6,000 employees last month Microsoft has eliminated over 300 additional jobs this week, just weeks after announcing 6,000 layoffs in what represents the company's second-largest workforce reduction since cutting 10,000 roles in 2023. While the specific departments affected in the latest round remain undisclosed, previous layoff patterns suggest software engineers and project managers are likely most impacted, as last month's cuts hit coding professionals hardest with over 40% of eliminated positions belonging to software engineers despite Microsoft's $80 billion AI infrastructure investment. CEO Satya Nadella has characterized these workforce reductions as a "realignment" rather than performance-based decisions, explaining it as "repositioning for what comes next" in the company's AI transformation, which now sees artificial intelligence writing up to 30% of code in some projects. The layoffs reflect broader industry trends as tech giants like Salesforce, Amazon, and Google implement flatter organizational structures and reduce engineering hiring due to AI adoption, with Microsoft's cuts occurring as the company continues investing billions in AI while employing approximately 228,000 full-time workers worldwide. Nintendo Switch 2 launches to sky-high demand and long queues Nintendo's highly anticipated Switch 2 launched earlier this week to massive consumer demand, with gaming fans lining up at electronics stores across Tokyo and pre-orders selling out within hours. The $499.99 console, featuring a larger screen and improved graphics compared to its predecessor, received 2.2 million lottery applications in Japan alone, while Target's pre-orders sold out in under two hours. Nintendo forecasts 15 million Switch 2 sales this financial year and has pledged to strengthen production capacity to meet overwhelming demand. With the original Switch selling 152 million units since 2017, analysts predict the new device could surpass 100 million sales by 2030, though supply shortages may persist for weeks or months as the company scales up manufacturing. OnePlus 13s, OnePlus Pad 3 launches OnePlus has launched two flagship devices in India, with the OnePlus 13s and the OnePlus Pad 3 tablet. The OnePlus 13s, priced starting at Rs 54,999, features a 6.32-inch LTPO AMOLED display with 120Hz refresh rate, powered by Qualcomm's Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset with 12GB RAM and 512GB storage, while packing a 5,850mAh Silicon Carbon battery with 80W fast charging and a dual-camera setup with 50MP primary and telephoto lenses. Meanwhile, the OnePlus Pad 3 boasts a larger 13.2-inch 3.4K 144Hz display, also powered by the Snapdragon 8 Elite processor with up to 16GB RAM, featuring eight speakers for immersive audio, a massive 12,140mAh battery with 80W SuperVOOC charging, and priced at $699.99 (approximately Rs 60,070) for the base 12GB+256GB variant. Both devices run Android 15-based OxygenOS 15 and offer enhanced productivity features, with the OnePlus 13s available in Black Velvet, Pink Satin , and Green Silk colors, while the Pad 3 comes in Storm Blue and Frosted Silver, available in Europe from June 19th and North America from July 8th, with Indian availability confirmed soon across major platforms. Apple's annual developers conference, WWDC 25 starts next week Apple's annual Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) 2025 is set to kick off next week from June 9-13 at Apple Park in Cupertino, California, with the keynote scheduled for 10 a.m. PT on June 9 followed by the Platforms State of the Union Address at 1 p.m. PT. The event, which can be watched online via the Apple TV app, and Apple's YouTube channel, is expected to unveil major software updates including iOS 19 (or possibly iOS 26 according to rumors suggesting a numbering system change), iPadOS, macOS, and WatchOS. This year's conference is particularly anticipated for potential dramatic design overhauls across Apple's operating systems, with Bloomberg reporting that iOS 19, iPadOS 19, and macOS 16 will feature new icons and menus creating a more cohesive style reminiscent of VisionOS, while Apple is also expected to outline significant progress in artificial intelligence with enhanced Apple Intelligence features and Siri improvements, as the company seeks to compete with Google's Gemini and other AI offerings from Android vendors. Meta signs 20-year nuclear deal to power AI operations Meta has secured a 20-year nuclear power agreement with Constellation Energy to meet the growing energy demands of its artificial intelligence operations. The deal will expand output at Illinois' Clinton Clean Energy Center by 30 megawatts starting in June 2027, when the plant's current state-funded support program expires. This partnership will preserve 1,100 local jobs and generate $13.5 million in annual tax revenue while providing clean energy equivalent to powering a city of 30,000 residents. The agreement makes Meta the latest tech giant to turn to nuclear power for AI infrastructure, joining Microsoft, Amazon, and Google in similar partnerships as companies balance surging energy needs with greenhouse gas reduction goals. AI Masterclass for Students. Upskill Young Ones Today!– Join Now
Yahoo
06-06-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Figure AI CEO skips live demo, sidesteps BMW deal questions onstage at tech conference
Brett Adcock, co-founder and CEO of the humanoid robotics startup Figure AI, made a rare public appearance at the Bloomberg Tech conference on Thursday. Figure has recently been the subject of a couple news articles that questioned its progress with marquee customer BMW. Figure objected so strenuously to at least one of these reports that Adcock publicly threatened to sue the publication. When asked about the skepticism surrounding the BMW relationship and whether it is a pilot or has commercial value to the company, Adcock replied with an explanation of the technical benefit of having robots on a factory floor but didn't provide specifics about the contractual relationship with BMW. "We get a lot of value, and it's really important that we need to figure out how to run robots every day. We get to see how well they perform. We get to track all the metrics," he said. Two months ago, Figure also published a YouTube video showing a couple of its robots working in a BMW factory. Adcock did, however, say that Figure AI has signed a contract with a second, unnamed customer for initial deployment, a customer that Bloomberg has reported to be UPS. Figure AI has drawn attention for making claims that its AI-powered robots possess human-like fine motor skills and can manipulate objects with precision. Despite releasing numerous videos of its robots at work, the company hasn't done a live demonstration of the humanoids. The interviewer, Bloomberg's Ed Ludlow, pointed out that while two other robotics companies, Agility Robotics and Boston Dynamics, showcased their robots at the conference, Figure AI did not. 'It kind of goes back to our whole philosophy around we don't go to a lot of events," said Adcock. "I think it's a giant waste of time. To be frank, I have to bring a team here to bring robots here. They could be at the office,' he said, adding that the company is showcasing the robots in videos. Adcock confirmed that Figure AI is expecting to manufacture and deploy roughly 100,000 units within four years. The skepticism about Figure's commercial relationship comes amid the company's attempts to raise a $1.5 billion round at a $39.5 billion valuation, sources told Bloomberg, a fifteenfold increase from the $2.6 billion valuation it achieved in February 2024. TechCrunch reported in April that Figure AI has been issuing cease-and-desist letters to secondary market brokers, demanding they stop marketing its shares because they are not authorized to do so. This article originally appeared on TechCrunch at
Yahoo
06-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Uber Is Once Again Considering Crypto Payments, Years After Mulling BTC as Payment Method
Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi said the ride-hailing giant is exploring the use of crypto as a payment method, which marks the third time the company has made the claim since 2021. Speaking at the Bloomberg Tech conference in San Francisco on Thursday, Khosrowshahi said the company is in the 'study phase' of evaluating stablecoins for operational use. 'I think stablecoins are one of the more interesting instantiations of crypto that have a practical benefit beyond being a store of value,' Khosrowshahi said. Uber was an early member of the Diem Association (formerly Libra), joining in 2019 to support Meta's now-defunct stablecoin initiative aimed at reshaping global payments. 'You can have your opinions on Bitcoin, it's a proven commodity, and people differ on where it's going. But stablecoins seems quite promising, especially for global companies moving money around internationally,' Khosrowshahi continued on Thursday. 'That's super interesting to us, and we're definitely going to take a look.' The remarks echo what Khosrowshahi told CNBC in September 2021, when he said Uber would 'look into' accepting BTC and other cryptocurrencies as payment. At the time, he dismissed any plans to put crypto on the company's balance sheet, saying, 'We are going to keep our cash safe.' Later, in February 2022, Khosrowshahi told Bloomberg that the company would 'absolutely' accept cryptocurrencies as a form of payment at 'some point' in the future, but emphasized that the time wasn't right yet. 'We're having conversations all the time,' Khosrowshahi said at the time. 'As the exchange mechanism becomes less expensive and becomes more environmentally friendly, I think you will see us leaning into crypto a little bit more.' When he made crypto-related comments in 2021, BTC traded flat for the next three months. However, his February 2022 comments came weeks before the beginning of an industry-shaking major market correction, which kicked off later that spring.
Bloomberg
06-06-2025
- Business
- Bloomberg
Uber CEO Makes Moves to Entice Customers to Use All His Services
Welcome to Tech In Depth, our daily newsletter with reporting and analysis about the business of tech from Bloomberg's journalists around the world. Today, Natalie Lung looks at the strategy Uber Chief Executive Officer Dara Khosrowshahi described as the next steps for his company's growth during an appearance at the Bloomberg Tech conference. Help us improve Bloomberg's newsletters: Take a quick survey to share your thoughts on your signup experience and what you'd like to see in the future.
