Google has reportedly laid off more than 200 contractors involved in training and refining its artificial intelligence systems, including the Gemini chatbot and AI Overviews feature.
The layoffs, carried out by outsourcing firm GlobalLogic and its subcontractors, occurred in at least two rounds during August 2025 and were executed with minimal prior notice.
The affected workers were part of a specialised group known as “super raters,” responsible for evaluating, rewriting, and improving AI-generated responses to ensure they were accurate, natural-sounding, and contextually appropriate.
Many held advanced degrees in fields such as education, writing, and research, and were considered critical to the development of Google’s generative AI tools.
Sudden Terminations and Lack of Transparency at Google
Several contractors described abrupt terminations with little explanation.
Andrew Lauzon, who joined GlobalLogic in March 2024, received an email on August 15 stating that his contract had ended due to a “ramp-down on the project.”
“I asked for a reason, and they said ramp-down on the project—whatever that means,” Andrew told WIRED.
Others echoed similar experiences, noting that they were suddenly locked out of work systems and communication channels.
The layoffs have raised concerns about job security and transparency, especially in a sector increasingly reliant on contract labour for AI development.
Allegations of Retaliation Against Unionisation Efforts
The timing of the layoffs has sparked speculation that they may be linked to growing unionisation efforts among contract workers.
Some raters joined the Alphabet Workers Union earlier this year. They advocated for better pay, clearer communication, and improved working conditions.
At least two contractors have filed complaints with the U.S. National Labor Relations Board, alleging retaliation for organising and raising concerns about wage disparities.
Ricardo Levario is a teacher from Texas and one of the early super raters. He said he was dismissed shortly after questioning company policies.
“During the five-minute call, they told me they were terminating my contract for violating the social spaces policy,” he said, referring to internal chat forums that were suddenly banned.
Pay Disparities and Precarious Conditions
Contractors hired directly by GlobalLogic reportedly earned between $28 and $32 per hour.
Those brought in through third-party agencies were paid significantly less—between $18 and $22 per hour—for the same work.
Workers also cited tight deadlines and limited benefits, with many lacking paid leave or health coverage.
Despite their specialised roles, contractors said they felt expendable.
Some expressed concern that they had trained AI systems that could now replace their jobs.
Internal documents reviewed by WIRED suggest that GlobalLogic may be developing tools to automate rating tasks.
This development is further fuelling fears of redundancy among contract workers.
Google Distances Itself from Employment Decisions
Google has denied direct responsibility for the layoffs. It stated that the affected individuals were employed by GlobalLogic or its subcontractors, not by Alphabet.
“As the employers, GlobalLogic and their subcontractors are responsible for the employment and working conditions of their employees,” said Google spokesperson Courtenay Mencini.
GlobalLogic has not issued a public statement on the matter.
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