Google Verily to cut 15% of workforce

Verily, the life sciences arm of Google parent Alphabet, plans to cut 15% of its workforce, or about 200 jobs. The cuts, which include some programs, are meant to make the device more efficient, according to a company blog post on Wednesday.

“We are making changes that advance our strategy, prioritize our product portfolio and simplify our operating model,” Stephen Gillett, Verily’s CEO, wrote in the post. “We will move fewer initiatives with more resources.”

Some of the programs being cut include Verily Value Suite, a health system analytics tool, as well as early-stage programs focused on remote monitoring of heart failure patients and microneedles for drug delivery.

Verily’s layoffs come as Intrinsic, Alphabet’s industrial robotics effort, is cutting 40 positions, or about 17 percent of its workforce, according to a report Wednesday by The Information.

Alphabet did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Amazon’s layoffs reflect the turbulence facing the tech industry. Twitter, Microsoft, Meta and Amazon have also laid off thousands of workers in recent months.