More than 4,500 Google workers have petitioned chief executive Sundar Pichai for stronger protections against layoffs, as the company expands investment in artificial intelligence while reducing parts of its workforce. Organised by the Alphabet Workers Union, the action reflects wider concern in Silicon Valley that AI spending and automation are increasing job insecurity even at highly profitable companies.

The petition seeks guaranteed severance, voluntary buyouts before compulsory redundancies, and the option to take severance as extended paid leave; it also criticises performance ratings allegedly driven by quotas rather than merit. Union president Parul Koul highlighted Alphabet’s roughly $4tn valuation and said the cuts prioritised profit over staff, while Google did not immediately comment. Recent reductions reportedly include Google Cloud roles and more than a third of managers overseeing small teams, amid continued hiring and marketing support for AI.