Waymo, the autonomous driving technology division of Alphabet, has announced a second round of layoffs for 2021,

 

This brings the total number of layoffs this year to 8%, a significant number for any company. While the pandemic has undoubtedly played a role in these layoffs, it's worth noting that Waymo has been facing challenges in recent years as it strives to bring its self-driving technology to market.

One of the key issues that Waymo and other companies in this space face is the significant investment required to develop and deploy self-driving vehicles. While the potential benefits of this technology are significant, including improved safety and reduced congestion, it remains an expensive and complex proposition. As a result, companies like Waymo have been forced to make tough decisions about their workforce and overall strategy.

Despite these challenges, Waymo remains a major player in the autonomous driving space, with partnerships with major automakers and a well-established testing program. As we look ahead, it's clear that the development of self-driving technology will continue to be a major focus for the tech industry, and it will be interesting to see how Waymo and other players in this space adapt to the changing landscape.