Google extends voluntary buyout offers to staff in several countries outside the US
Offers began in June in Canada, France, Germany, Japan and Switzerland, with Google Cloud and DeepMind excluded, as AI spending weighs on Alphabet.
Why it matters
Big Tech is trimming staff costs while pouring money into AI data centres, and investors have grown uneasy about the size of that spending. Google has used voluntary exit programmes in the US since early 2025; extending them abroad widens the effort without announcing layoffs. Microsoft offered buyouts to 60,000 employees last week. How many Google staff have accepted is unknown, and Google says the programme gives teams flexibility while it invests in its priorities.
Key facts
- Offers began in June in Canada, France, Germany, Japan and Switzerland
- Google Cloud and DeepMind are excluded
- Uptake has not been disclosed
- Microsoft offered buyouts to 60,000 staff last week