Google tells employees to prepare for big AI impact, offers voluntary exit to those not involved
Google’s business unit has announced that staff members who are not ready to adopt AI as part of the company’s future plans can leave voluntarily. This comes days after Google’s parent company, Alphabet, reported record-breaking revenue of $400 billion in 2025.
A few days ago, Google’s parent company, Alphabet, reported its highest ever revenue of $400 billion in 2025. Now, the company’s business unit is offering the option to take a voluntary exit with a severance package to employees who may not be ready to embrace the company’s future AI plans.
According to Business Insider, Google Chief Business Officer Philip Schindler said in an internal memo that some employees of the Global Trade Organization (GBO) unit may opt for this voluntary exit. Google’s GBO unit oversees a variety of functions including advertising products and services as well as global revenue growth.
Google chief hints at considering adopting or abandoning AI
According to the report, Philipp Schindler acknowledged that the company heads into 2026 in a “strong position.” However, Schindler indicated that the AI landscape is constantly evolving. He added, “But the game is dynamic, the pace is fast and the stakes are high.”
The Google chief said the company only wanted to hire employees who were “fully engaged” in its future plans, and could adopt “AI to have an even greater impact.”
For those who are unwilling to fully engage with the plan or are “ready to move on” from Google, Schindler mentioned a voluntary exit program with severance packages. This program has been offered to employees in other roles such as solutions teams, sales and corporate development.
Who is not eligible for Google’s severance package?
However, Schindler clarified that the program will not apply to Google’s large customer sales teams and other customer-facing positions in the US. “While all GBO functions are essential to our long-term strategy, we have decided not to offer VEPs for these particular roles in order to limit disruption to our customers as much as possible,” he wrote.
The approach mirrors similar buyout offers made by Google across its US operations, including last year’s offers for its Android and core engineering divisions. In November last year, Google took a similar approach for some of its UK employees. The email offered employees a “voluntary exit package.”
The voluntary exit trend is not unique to Google. Other tech giants like Amazon, Meta and Microsoft have also introduced restructuring initiatives or incentives to encourage employees to move towards AI-powered business models. It was previously reported that Microsoft had given senior executives an ultimatum to get involved with AI or potentially leave the company.
