What You Should Know:
– Alphabet’s Verily announced in an internal memo that is has closed its medical device division and laid off staff. The exact number of employees affected was not revealed.
– According to a spokesperson, the company has made the “difficult decision to discontinue manufacturing medical devices” and will no longer support them moving forward. This move is a continuation of a broader strategic shift from Alphabet in 2023, which saw the company cut 12,000 positions across multiple divisions to prioritize investments in AI and data infrastructure.
A Shift to Precision Health, Data, and AI
Verily’s medical device division had previously conducted research in various areas, from connected diabetes therapies to robot surgery. CEO Stephen Gillett acknowledged some of the division’s achievements, including the launch of the Dexcom G7 CGM for diabetes management and the Stargazer VNRC drug targeting system. He noted that these contributions have advanced patient care and medical research.
However, the company will now focus on what Gillett called its “core mission”: “precision health, data, and AI”. This strategic pivot aligns with Alphabet’s company-wide focus on artificial intelligence.
