Google is offering some employees the option to leave with a severance package even after the company recently reported its highest-ever annual revenue. According to a report by Business Insider, Google’s Chief Business Officer Philipp Schindler recently informed staff that selected teams within its Global Business Organization (GBO) can apply for a voluntary exit programme (VEP). The message was delivered via an internal mail on February 10, 2026, and made it clear that the company is sharpening its focus on artificial intelligence and expects employees to align with this direction. Those who feel they are not ready for the electric pace or the shift toward AI have been given a choice to step away under the new plan in the United States.
The GBO oversees Google’s advertising products and is responsible for driving much of the company’s revenue worldwide. This was made public just after Alphabet reported its highest-ever annual revenue of $402.8 billion for 2025, marking its first-ever milestone of surpassing $400 billion. While highlighting the strong performance, Schindler noted that the industry is moving quickly and that competition is growing. He told employees that everyone in the unit needs to be all in and ready to embrace AI to make a bigger impact.
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Under the voluntary exit programme, certain US-based employees in roles such as sales, solutions teams, and corporate development are eligible for severance if they choose to leave. The reported package includes 14 weeks of base pay plus one additional week for every year of service. Schindler said the offer is meant for those who may not be comfortable with the speed of change or who are considering moving on from the company.
However, the program does not apply to large customer sales teams in the US and other customer-facing roles. Google said this step is aimed at avoiding disruption for clients, with applications set to be processed by late March 2026.
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This is not the first time Google has done it, as the company has previously offered buyouts in other units such as YouTube and engineering and marketing teams throughout 2025. Furthermore, Google is not the only company which has followed this approach; other major technology companies have followed the same tactic to modify their workforce composition as they seek to invest more in the field of AI. From the trends seen in the companies operating in the sector, it is evident that AI is the next growth area for the companies, with Alphabet alone planning to spend up to $185 billion on AI infrastructure in 2026.