Google is giving some employees the option to leave the company voluntarily as it focuses more on artificial intelligence (AI). Staff who feel they cannot keep up with the company’s AI plans or are not fully committed can take severance packages to help them transition out.
The offer is mainly for employees in the Global Business Organisation (GBO), including teams in sales support, corporate development, and solutions. However, large customer-facing sales teams in the US and some frontline staff are not included, to avoid affecting clients.
Philipp Schindler, Google’s Chief Business Officer, told staff that the company started 2026 in a strong position but needs everyone to be fully engaged with AI to stay competitive. He emphasized that the technology world is changing fast, and Google wants employees who are “all in” on AI.
This is not the first time Google has done this. Over the past year, similar exit options were offered to teams in engineering, Android, Core, and YouTube as part of reorganizing around AI and productivity.
Industry experts say this is part of a broader trend in big tech. Companies like Amazon, Meta, and Microsoft are also reshaping teams and offering incentives or restructuring to focus on AI.
For employees, the program is a chance to leave voluntarily with financial support if they feel their skills or interests don’t match Google’s AI direction. For the company, it allows a smoother transition to an AI-first workforce without major layoffs.
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