• GarlicToast@programming.dev
      link
      fedilink
      arrow-up
      23
      ·
      8 months ago

      If I’m reading their CEOspeak right, their objective is to fire the very experienced people, that costs a lot of money, and replace them with people that costs less.

      I never worked at Google, so I don’t know for sure, but it sounds like the Python team is important and that this will backfire. As the people that costs less will also be less skilled, and Python is an important piece for AI/ML research, where Google is already lagging behind. The AI people in Google will get lower quality help with Python, and Google will lag even further behind.

      That what happens when the CEO is an MBA and not an engineer.

      • ericjmorey@programming.dev
        link
        fedilink
        arrow-up
        8
        ·
        8 months ago

        Engineers over index in their own ways, but I think you’re spot on with decoding the PR speak.

        The Python team was very involved with the Python Software Foundation and was influencial with directing priorities for the Python programming language reference implementation (which is by far the most widely used implementation of Python). Google just gave up their say in how the language will evolve. Seems like an incredibly bad strategy. But then again, Google has been, from a financial perspective, nothing more than a digital classified ads platform for decades. If a smart MBA were running Google they’d start spinning off divisions into new IPOs and cashing in with dividends like other large conglomerates have done in the past when they have stopped inovating or actually commit to their projects long term.

    • porgamrer@programming.dev
      link
      fedilink
      arrow-up
      21
      arrow-down
      3
      ·
      8 months ago

      They are not stupid at all. Their interests are in conflict with the interests of tech workers and they are winning effortlessly, over and over again.

      The big tech companies are all owned by the same people. If these layoffs cause google to lose market share to another company, it’s fine because they own that company too.

      What matters is coordinating regular layoffs across the whole industry to reduce labour costs. It’s the same principle as a strike: if the whole industry does layoffs, workers gradually have to accept lower salaries. In other words, the employers are unionised and the employees are not.

      This process will probably continue for the next 20 years, until tech workers have low salaries and no job security. It has happened to countless industries before, and I doubt we are special.

      I’m sure the next big industries will be technology-focused, but that’s not the same as “tech”. They won’t involve people being paid $200k to write websites in ruby.

    • boyi@lemmy.sdf.org
      link
      fedilink
      arrow-up
      16
      ·
      8 months ago

      It’s going to be more expensive to hire and train new people when the dumdums in upper management finally figure out the mistakes

      Unfortunately that’s not the case. Those who have been laid off are those paid high salaries to build up the foundation. Now that the foundation is already there, they future work won’t be as complex as before and need less training. So why would they still pay the very high salaries? They’ll just get rid of the used-to-be-important programmers and hire the can-be-hired-for-a-lot-less programmers from India. It’s sad, but that’s the reality.

      • MonkderDritte@feddit.de
        link
        fedilink
        arrow-up
        6
        ·
        8 months ago

        Those who have been laid off are those … to build up the foundation. Now that the foundation is already there, the future work won’t be as complex as before and need less training.

        Small-to-medium companies see you at least as investment. So this is where i work.

      • Maddier1993@programming.dev
        link
        fedilink
        arrow-up
        3
        arrow-down
        2
        ·
        8 months ago

        Now that the foundation is already there, they future work won’t be as complex as before and need less training.

        LOL, LMAO even.

        • boyi@lemmy.sdf.org
          link
          fedilink
          arrow-up
          2
          ·
          8 months ago

          Yeah, at least give you argument so I can also laugh at myself too.

          Anyway, take a look at this article that just came out just earlier, which means that by no chance it’s been referenced when I wtote my earlier comment. And do take note of the BOLD words.

          The Core unit is responsible for building the technical foundation behind the company’s flagship products and for protecting users’ online safety, according to Google’s website. Core teams include key technical units from information technology, its Python developer team, technical infrastructure, security foundation, app platforms, core developers, and various engineering roles.