Google Earnings Preview: Layoffs, Google Cloud, AI

What does Google CEO Sundar Pichai reveal about the company’s ongoing layoffs of 12,000 people?

How much did Google Cloud lose in Q4 2022? Is Google preparing an artificial intelligence surprise?

These and other questions will likely be answered during Google’s Q4 2022 earnings call on February 2 at 4:30 p.m. ET, where Pichai and Mr. Other Google executives answer questions from analysts.

[Related: 40,000 Tech Layoffs: Amazon Vs. Google Vs. Microsoft]

Google Cloud Earnings, Layoffs

Google Cloud, Google’s fast-growing cloud business, will be the centerpiece of the company’s earnings call on Thursday. The Mountain View, Calif.-based cloud company is one of Google’s most strategic technology assets alongside its artificial intelligence business.

Google Cloud revenue was $6.9 billion in Q3 2022, up 38% from $5 billion in Q3 2021. That puts the company’s annual run rate at about $27 billion.

But what’s most on the minds of customers, partners and investors on Thursday’s conference call is Google’s recent decision to furlough 12,000 employees worldwide.

Unlike other layoffs at large tech conglomerates and cloud competitors (such as Microsoft and Amazon), Google’s layoffs seem to have affected some technology professionals and veterans. source business; and Cat Allman, his 15-year executive at Google, also recently stepped down from his position as manager of the Developer Ecosystems program.

In a blog post to employees on Jan. 20 announcing 12,000 layoffs, Google’s CEO said the company sees a “huge opportunity” ahead thanks to its investments in products, services and artificial intelligence. He said he was confident.

“Capturing it fully requires making hard choices. That’s why we undertook a rigorous review across product areas and functions to ensure our people and roles are aligned with our top priorities as a company. I did,” Pichai said. “The roles we eliminate reflect the results of that review.”

CRN breaks down the four most important things to watch for in Google’s earnings call on Thursday: AI, Google Cloud, and job cuts.