Layoffs at Google Prompt Employees to Start Companies or Consider Return Offers

Layoffs at Google are prompting employees to consider starting new companies or evaluating return offers. Rob Waters, who was laid off from Google last year, was subsequently offered a role as an AI sales specialist with a six-figure salary. Waters declined the return, citing frustration with corporate bureaucracy and the handling of his team's elimination. He chose instead to bet on his own company, Kanawai AI, a startup he cofounded.

The experience highlights the financial risks associated with unvested stock compensation in large technology firms. The article notes that years of layoffs have made some Big Tech workers cautious about their equity. Meanwhile, the AI boom is creating new avenues for potential equity gains for those willing to become founders.