Google Cuts 200 Contractors From Key AI Projects
The layoffs arrive as Google aggressively ramps up its AI investments to stay competitive with rivals like OpenAI and Microsoft, highlighting the company’s shifting priorities while sparking concern about job security for contractors amid rapid technological advancements.
Google Lays Off 200 Contractors Working on AI Projects, Raising Job Security Concerns
New Delhi: Tech giant Google has reportedly laid off more than 200 contractors working on its artificial intelligence (AI) projects, including the highly touted Gemini chatbot and the AI Overviews feature that summarizes search results. The move has sparked anxiety among workers about job security, low pay, and potential retaliation against unionization efforts.
According to a detailed report by WIRED, the layoffs took place in at least two separate rounds last month. Many contractors said they were caught off guard, with little or no advance warning before being suddenly cut off from their work. For a workforce already feeling uncertain, the abruptness of the decision only deepened fears.
One of the affected workers, Lauzon, who joined Hitachi-owned GlobalLogic in March 2024, shared his experience of working on training Google’s Gemini chatbot and other AI tools. How are we supposed to feel secure in this employment when we know we could go at any moment?” he said.
Lauzon’s frustration reflects a larger sentiment among contractors, many of whom hold advanced degrees such as master’s and PhDs. These workers were not simply performing routine tasks—they were part of a specialized group known internally as “super raters.” Their role was critical: refining AI-generated responses, making them sound more natural, and ensuring accuracy.
Workers described their jobs as essential to the success of Google’s AI tools. One contractor, Alex, compared their work to lifeguards watching over a busy beach: “The engineers are not going to have the time to fine-tune and get the feedback they need for the bot. We’re like the lifeguards on the beach — we’re there to make sure nothing bad happens.”
Despite their importance, these workers were among the most vulnerable in Google’s extended workforce. Unlike full-time employees, contractors often lack long-term job protections, higher pay scales, and benefits. Many of those let go told WIRED they felt their contributions were undervalued, even as Google doubled down on its AI ambitions.
The companies involved have largely deflected responsibility. Google contracts much of this labor through GlobalLogic and its subcontractors, which technically handle the workers’ employment.
Yet, for those laid off, this distinction offers little comfort. Workers point out that regardless of who signed their paychecks, their day-to-day responsibilities were closely tied to shaping Google’s most high-profile AI products. Losing their jobs so suddenly left many questioning the fairness of the system.
The timing of the layoffs has also raised eyebrows. They come as Google is pouring billions into artificial intelligence to keep pace with rivals like OpenAI and Microsoft. While AI is increasingly seen as the future of search, productivity, and cloud computing, the human labor behind these systems often remains invisible. The dismissals highlight a paradox: the same people who make AI smarter and safer are among the most insecure in their roles.
For the contractors, the human cost is immediate. Many had hoped these jobs would be stable stepping stones into the tech industry, especially given their advanced qualifications. Instead, they now face uncertainty and the challenge of finding new opportunities in a field where contract work is becoming increasingly common but not always sustainable.
Beyond individual struggles, the layoffs point to broader questions about the future of work in AI. As companies like Google chase innovation at breakneck speed, how much value is placed on the people fine-tuning these powerful systems? And can workers count on fair treatment when their jobs are outsourced and their positions are seen as expendable?
For now, what remains is unease. The workers who once served as the “lifeguards” of Google’s AI projects now find themselves adrift, wondering if the very future they helped shape has left them behind.