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Google lays off hundreds in hardware, voice assistant teams

bloomberg.com

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Re: Google lays off hundreds in hardware, voice assistant teams

#41

Post by ertian »

arnaudsm wrote: post #21

I bet they'll rehire like crazy in AR once the Apple Vision Pro is a success. I miss when Google had vision instead of trend following lazily

Did it ever really have vision? Honestly, Google kinda seems like it suffers from ADHD: it bounces from one shiny new project to another, quickly losing interest in anything that doesn't immediately take off. In the old days, that was enough: their little experiments really _did_ take off. Now, in a more crowded field, it takes more discipline and focus to get things off the ground...and discipline and focus are two things that Google leadership seems to seriously lack.

Re: Google lays off hundreds in hardware, voice assistant teams

#42

Post by meragrin_ »

choppaface wrote: post #14
bryanrasmussen wrote: post #8

Earlier quoted context omitted.

If one of google's working theories is they should hire people to keep them away from other organizations then it makes sense they don't fire until they see their competitors start.

They probably tried to move as many as possible to Bard or to backfill Ads / Android etc but some of these are people who wouldn’t / couldn’t move. It mainly signals that upper management is not up to task and made bad bets. Fitbit was a great product and for Google to axe the founders says “we care about monetizing users not serving them.”

> Fitbit was a great product and for Google to axe the founders says “we care about monetizing users not serving them.”

They weren't axed. They are choosing to leave. They probably reached the point where all the incentives to stay were earned and have no other reason to stay. The Fitbit acquisition was completed 3 years ago so it is quite likely they have reached full vestment.

Re: Google lays off hundreds in hardware, voice assistant teams

#43

Post by pkos98 »

ertian wrote: post #41
arnaudsm wrote: post #21

I bet they'll rehire like crazy in AR once the Apple Vision Pro is a success. I miss when Google had vision instead of trend following lazily

Did it ever really have vision? Honestly, Google kinda seems like it suffers from ADHD: it bounces from one shiny new project to another, quickly losing interest in anything that doesn't immediately take off. In the old days, that was enough: their little experiments really _did_ take off. Now, in a more crowded field, it takes more discipline and focus to get things off the ground...and discipline and focus are two…

Which of their own projects took off? E.g. Android and Maps were acquisitions IIRC. Maybe Google+?

Re: Google lays off hundreds in hardware, voice assistant teams

#44

Post by [deleted] »

ertian wrote: post #41
arnaudsm wrote: post #21

I bet they'll rehire like crazy in AR once the Apple Vision Pro is a success. I miss when Google had vision instead of trend following lazily

Did it ever really have vision? Honestly, Google kinda seems like it suffers from ADHD: it bounces from one shiny new project to another, quickly losing interest in anything that doesn't immediately take off. In the old days, that was enough: their little experiments really _did_ take off. Now, in a more crowded field, it takes more discipline and focus to get things off the ground...and discipline and focus are two…

[deleted]

Re: Google lays off hundreds in hardware, voice assistant teams

#45

Post by jackvalentine »

pkos98 wrote: post #43
ertian wrote: post #41

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Did it ever really have vision? Honestly, Google kinda seems like it suffers from ADHD: it bounces from one shiny new project to another, quickly losing interest in anything that doesn't immediately take off. In the old days, that was enough: their little experiments really _did_ take off. Now, in a more crowded field, it takes more discipline and focus to get things off the ground...and discipline and focus are two…

Which of their own projects took off? E.g. Android and Maps were acquisitions IIRC. Maybe Google+?

Gmail

Re: Google lays off hundreds in hardware, voice assistant teams

#47

Post by sidcool »

I always had a special place for Google in my heart, since 2008. And never thought they would lay people off. It's sad really, despite I never having worked with them. I feel pretty gloomy about tech career overall. Is it even worth continuing to learn fundamentals and stuff?
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