Google recently made headlines when it offered an astonishing 300% salary hike to an employee who was considering a move to Perplexity AI. The revelation came from Aravind Srinivas, CEO of Perplexity AI, during a discussion on the Big Technology Podcast. What’s intriguing is that the employee in question belonged to Google’s search team and had no direct involvement with its AI division.
This hefty offer underscores the lengths to which tech giants like Google are willing to go to retain their talent pool, especially amidst ongoing restructuring efforts. Google’s CEO, Sundar Pichai, recently warned employees about impending job cuts, citing the need to make “tough choices” to fuel future investments.
In an internal memo addressed to all Google employees, Pichai emphasized the company’s ambitious goals and the necessity of creating capacity for forthcoming investments. The memo disclosed plans to reduce the global workforce by approximately 12,000 roles, amounting to around 6% of Google’s total workforce.
Since January 10, Google has reportedly laid off over a thousand employees across various departments. Pichai’s announcement sheds light on the company’s strategy to streamline operations and prioritize key initiatives.
The 300% salary hike offered to a non-AI employee underscores Google’s commitment to retaining top talent in a competitive landscape. While job cuts may be inevitable, Google’s focus on investing in future priorities remains unwavering.
As Google navigates these changes, it’s evident that the tech giant is taking proactive steps to ensure its long-term sustainability and innovation in an ever-evolving industry landscape.
