IN FOCUS
In today’s newsletter, we look at:
- Why culture issues at Google Cloud APAC should matter to Alphabet
- Will partnering with Alibaba help Apple offer AI services to Chinese users?
Welcome to The Prompt! Delivered every fortnight, this free newsletter breaks down the biggest stories and trends in AI. Get all our content, including The Prompt, by registering for a Tech in Asia account. Alternatively, sign up here if you just want to receive this newsletter.
Hi there,
As I get older, I’ve come to realize how important a firm’s culture is to my work satisfaction.
While no company is perfect, I’m thankful for the open, friendly culture we have at Tech in Asia.
Certainly, Google wants to be known for having a good work environment, too. The tech titan offers an enviable list of perks, from free meals to generous medical benefits. It’s also well known for its culture of “Googleliness”- a loose term that refers to principles of respect, humility, empathy, and transparency.
Yet the reality experienced by some employees in the firm’s Cloud unit in Asia Pacific – which offers infrastructure services, collaboration tools, and generative AI solutions – may not have squared with this ideal.
As my colleague Melissa explores in this week’s featured story, a culture shift has led to friction within the division. According to several current and former employees, hiring and diversity standards have fallen, among other concerns.
How and whether these issues are dealt with could have wider implications for Google Cloud’s business as a whole. While the APAC business contributes less to the topline than North America or Europe, it is expected to have more growth upside.
US tech companies have long been viewed as the gold standard when it comes to issues ranging from remuneration to culture. The latest rumblings at Google Cloud APAC suggests that this exceptionalism may no longer hold.
Meanwhile, in this week’s Hot Take, I take a closer look at Apple’s decision to team up with Alibaba to introduce AI to Chinese iPhone users.
— Simon
THE BIG STORY
Why culture issues at Google Cloud APAC may matter to the whole company
THE HOT TAKE
DEEP READS
Stop wasting time on fleeting connections
Stay updated on the go with our mobile app.
Get latest insights with smoother, more personalized experience through TIA mobile app.
