Google's Treasured AI Unit Gets Swept Up in 12,000 Job Cuts

Alphabet Inc. is reorganizing its treasured artificial intelligence unit as part of the company's sweeping job cuts announced on Friday, according to an internal memo. Jeff Dean, the executive who leads Google's artificial intelligence and research efforts, said that apart from a "modest number" of reductions across the research unit, the company had determined it was over-invested in its data platform for care teams, called Google for Clinicians. The robotics unit will also see consolidation across Alphabet and Google, he said. Alphabet announced earlier on Friday that it will cut about 12,000 jobs, more than 6% of its global workforce, becoming the latest tech giant to retrench after years of abundant growth and hiring. Chief Executive Officer Sundar Pichai told employees the cuts will affect jobs globally and across the entire company.