YouTube is offering voluntary buyouts with severance packages to certain U.S.-based employees as part of a major internal restructuring aimed at accelerating the platform’s shift toward artificial intelligence. The changes were outlined in an internal memo sent to staff by YouTube CEO Neal Mohan, who emphasized that while the reorganization is substantial, it does not include any planned layoffs.
According to the memo, YouTube is reorganizing its product division into three newly defined groups: Viewer Products, Creator and Community Products, and Subscription Products. Each of these divisions will have appointed leads who will report directly to Mohan. The restructuring officially goes into effect on November 5.
In his announcement, Mohan highlighted artificial intelligence as the driving force behind the reorganization, calling it the platform’s “next frontier.”
“Looking to the future, the next frontier for YouTube is AI, which has the potential to transform every part of the platform. We need to set ourselves up to make the most of this opportunity,” Mohan wrote.
The new division structure is intended to streamline development efforts across the platform, with a renewed focus on boosting viewer engagement, enhancing creator tools, building community, and expanding paid subscription offerings like YouTube Premium and YouTube TV. AI tools, Mohan suggested, will be central to achieving these goals, particularly in improving video creation, personalization, and content discovery.
Although Mohan stressed that “no role eliminations are planned” as a direct result of the reorganization, he acknowledged that some employees may choose to move on.
To accommodate those employees, YouTube is launching a Voluntary Exit Program for eligible U.S. staff who report directly within the affected product organization. Those who opt in will be able to leave with severance packages, though exact terms were not publicly disclosed.
“It’s an incredibly exciting time at YouTube, and many opportunities and challenges lie ahead,” Mohan said. “But we also understand some of you may be ready for a new challenge, so we’ve decided now is the right time to offer a Voluntary Exit Program.”
Founded in 2005, YouTube is nearing its 20th anniversary, now serving billions of users globally and expanding well beyond its origins as a simple video-sharing platform. Mohan acknowledged that while the company has grown significantly, its leadership framework has remained largely unchanged for nearly a decade.
“We have grown in size, scope, and complexity over the years, but our core leadership structure has not evolved in a decade. I believe these changes will set us up well to continue our success,” Mohan noted.
Mohan has worked at YouTube and its parent company, Google, for over ten years. He previously served as YouTube’s Chief Product Officer beginning in 2015 before stepping into the CEO role in February 2023, succeeding former CEO Susan Wojcicki.