Google cuts more than 100 design-related roles in cloud unit to channel funds toward AI

Google has laid off more than 100 employees in design-related roles, CNBC has learned.

Earlier this week, the company laid off employees within the cloud unit’s “quantitative user experience research” teams and “platform and service experience” teams, as well as some adjacent teams, according to internal documents viewed by CNBC.

The roles often focus on using data, surveys and other tools to understand and implement user behaviors that inform product development and design.

Google has halved some of the cloud unit’s design teams, and many of those affected are US-based roles. Some employees have been given until early December to find a new role within the company.

The company did not immediately respond to CNBC’s request for comment. Business Insider first reported that some cloud roles were eliminated.

The latest layoffs come as Google accelerates cuts to focus spending on artificial intelligence infrastructure.

Since the beginning of the year, the search giant has offered voluntary exit packages to many U.S.-based units across the company and eliminated more than one-third of its managers overseeing small teams.

It also recently began pushing employees to use more AI in their daily work.

So far, the company has offered buyouts to US-based employees from units such as human resources, hardware, search, ads, marketing, finance and commerce divisions.

CNBC reported in August that Google CEO Sundar Pichai told employees the company would need “to be more efficient as we scale up so we don’t solve everything with headcount.”

Other megacaps have also seen recent cuts.

In July, Microsoft laid off 9,000 employees across roles and geographies. Meta has also had layoffs.