The layoffs were carried out by Cognizant, a professional services company contracted by Alphabet, Google's parent company. Cognizant stated that the contract ended at its intended date and the workers will receive seven weeks of paid time to explore other roles within the organization. The layoffs come amid calls for the resignation of Alphabet and Google CEO, Sundar Pichai, due to increasing competition and recent failures in artificial intelligence.
Key takeaways:
- The entire YouTube Music team has been laid off following a strike last year and ongoing tensions at Google's parent company, Alphabet.
- Some of the Alphabet workers found out about the layoff while they were speaking at an Austin City Council meeting, lobbying for support for their union.
- Cognizant, the professional services company that Alphabet contracted the YouTube Music team through, said the workers were let go after their contract ended at its intended date.
- The layoffs come as Alphabet and Google CEO, Sundar Pichai faces calls for his resignation amid growing pressure of competition from new innovations in artificial intelligence and recent failures with AI.