The Fuchsia operating system (OS) and Area 120 incubator teams have been hit particularly hard by Google's massive layoffs, among many others.
Google began massive layoffs on Friday morning, Jan. 20, which would ultimately affect 12,000 people. As per 9to5Google, the entire ramifications of the decision are still being revealed, but more information is becoming available.
The Fuchsia OS Team
The New York Times reported that among those let go at Google was a sizeable group of people working on the Fuchsia OS. The dismissal of at least 16% of the project's 400 workers is confirmed by 9to5Google's own internal data.
It is possible that in the following weeks, Google may lay off many more people outside of the US since the sacking has only affected the company's American workers thus far.
Fuchsia seemed to be moving well ahead at Google until the recent layoffs.
The company's original operating system has been developed in secret for many years. Still, it is now being utilized in the Nest Hub series and will likely be included in a future product. Even Google's internal Fuchsia development appears to have picked up steam in recent months.
The Fuchsia team seems to have been singled out for layoffs more so than other departments, even though Google - as a whole - plans to decrease its personnel by roughly 6%. What this may signify for the future of the project is still unclear.
The Area 120 Department
Meanwhile, it has been claimed that Google's Area 120, the company's former incubator for experimental concepts like smart responses and GameSnacks, has been almost dissolved due to Friday's layoffs.
According to Bloomberg, almost all of the division's workers were let go after it was streamlined down to three main projects.
After a previous round of layoffs in September 2022, when the Area 120 division was reduced by half, this latest round of cutbacks is especially harsh. The decision was explained at the time as Area 120's shift in emphasis to "AI-first projects."
There are just three projects left in the incubator, and they are all scheduled to "graduate" this year.
Offered Support
In a previous report by Tech Times, CEO Sundar Pichai expressed gratitude for the work of the employees who will be dismissed.
He continued by saying Google will assist laid-off workers in finding new employment. The tech giant will provide the following support:
- 2022 incentives and unused vacation time will be disbursed.
- Healthcare, job placement, and immigration assistance will be provided for six months.
- Affected foreign workers who follow local procedures will get support.
- A severance compensation of at least 16 weeks' salary and acceleration of at least 16 weeks of GSU vesting shall be offered.
- Staff members will still receive payment for the whole notice period (minimum of 60 days).
