Google Area 120 will graduate Aloud, Checks and Liist startups despite reducing workforce
The workforce in Area 120 has drastically reduced. Although many projects were cancelled, initiatives such as Aloud, Checks and Liist managed not to be affected by these cancellations.
Google Area 120 will graduate Aloud, Checks and Liist startups despite reducing workforce
Google’s R&D group Area 120 had canceled half of the projects in the past months to focus on artificial intelligence . Area 120 previously had 14 projects and the number of projects was reduced to 7. Employees whose projects were discontinued were told they had to find a new job at Google by the end of January 2023, or they would be fired.
After this event just a few months ago, news was shared recently that the workforce in Area 120 has been severely reduced . It was even claimed that there were fewer than 100 employees in this unit. After the current layoffs, the fate of Area 120’s projects has also been a matter of curiosity. According to information shared by TechCrunch, only three startups were unaffected; Aloud, Checks and Liist.
As part of the layoffs, Google terminated all but three of its Area 120 ventures. Now it turns out that one of these projects was bought by the “Liist” team working on a “Generation Z consumer product”.
Aloud offers an automated and less costly video dubbing solution. Checks operates as a privacy platform for app developers. Liist, which was quietly acquired by Google last year, is also an initiative that focuses on generation Z.
Prior to Liist’s acquisition, Google talked about the threat posed by TikTok and Instagram to key search and advertising businesses. In fact, Google Senior Vice President Prabhakar Raghavan said that about 40 percent of teens do not go to Google Maps or Search when looking for places to have lunch; Instead, he said that he preferred platforms such as Instagram and TikTok.
When Liist’s bookmarking app was introduced, it was possible to save locations for travel, plan nights out with friends, create lists of date night venues, and more. Users could vote where they wanted to go or plan a trip together. The app could also be integrated into TikTok’s Jump platform. However, the post-purchase app was shut down, and Google said Liist’s team only “focused on Generation Z”, not sharing any further information.
Launched in 2016, Area 120 offers employees the opportunity to work on small startups living at Google.
