Google is offering voluntary exit packages to employees in its Search, ads, and other key U.S. divisions, while also mandating stricter return-to-office policies, as the company continues to reallocate resources towards artificial intelligence, a move first reported by The Information.

Homeward bound: Alongside the buyouts, Google is reinforcing its hybrid work model. Nick Fox, who heads the "Knowledge and Information" (K&I) group responsible for search, ads, and commerce, informed staff via an internal memo (shared by The Verge) that U.S. employees in his division living within 50 miles of an office must now adhere to a 3/2 hybrid schedule. Fox stated, "we innovate better and make decisions faster when we’re working together in the office."

The fine print: The voluntary exit program (VEP) is presented as a "supportive exit path" for those not fully aligned with Google's current direction or performance expectations, according to Fox. Details from the memo, as reported by The Verge, indicate the package for some roles includes at least 14 weeks of pay, with a July 1st deadline to opt-in. A Google spokesperson confirmed to CNBC that several teams are now offering these VEPs.

Strategic shuffle: These moves are part of a larger pattern, following the layoff of 12,000 employees in early 2023 and similar buyout offers in other units like Platforms and Devices (Android, Pixel) and People Operations (HR) earlier in 2025. The current offers notably exclude staff in DeepMind, Google Cloud, YouTube, and the central ad sales division, per The Verge. This ongoing restructuring supports Google's focus on AI, with finance chief Anat Ashkenazi previously indicating that cost savings would help fund greater AI infrastructure investment.

The Bottom Line: Google is methodically recalibrating its workforce and operational approach, prioritizing in-person collaboration and doubling down on AI, even if it means encouraging some long-tenured employees to head for the exits.

Reading Recap:

• Nick Fox's internal memo on VEP and RTO

• CNBC details buyouts across multiple Google divisions

• The Information's initial report on Search/Ads buyouts

• Context on Google's earlier layoffs and restructuring

Also on our radar: Google is also revamping its internal "Grow" learning platform to heavily focus on AI skills, reflecting the company-wide pivot. Meanwhile, CEO Sundar Pichai recently suggested he expects Google’s engineering base to grow despite current reductions, and these changes mirror a broader Big Tech trend of restructuring to prioritize AI development.