Google’s productivity push could backfire

Google’s productivity push could backfire
Google CEO Sundar Pichai. (Image: Getty)
Peter Griffin
Google narrowly missed earnings targets last week and its chief executive Sundar Pichai now wants his 174,000 employees to up their productivity.In an all-hands meeting following parent company Alphabet’s second-quarter results briefing, which revealed that profit dropped 14% to US$16 billion (NZ$25.7b) based on the previous year, Pichai laid down the law.“There are real concerns that our productivity as a whole is not where it needs to be for the headcount we have,” he apparently told Google employees.He asked them to help &l...

More Opinion

Productivity: Uncloud the BS
Opinion

Simon Robertson: Productivity: Uncloud the BS

The goal of productivity is to simply get the most out of the least time spent.

Simon Robertson 10 May 2025
You won’t trust AI if you don’t understand it
Opinion

Peter Griffin: You won’t trust AI if you don’t understand it

The goal for AI should be to develop “critical use" because it has many flaws.

Peter Griffin 07 May 2025
Organic traffic is softening thanks to AI
Opinion

Ben Goodale: Organic traffic is softening thanks to AI

AI still can’t replicate experience. And that’s where brands need to double down.

Ben Goodale 06 May 2025