Alphabet’s Verily Shuts Down Medical Device Division, Shifts Focus to AI

Alphabet’s life sciences subsidiary Verily has closed its medical device division and laid off staff, according to an internal memo shared with employees. The company did not disclose the number of people affected, but a spokesperson confirmed that Verily has made the “difficult decision to discontinue manufacturing medical devices” and will no longer provide support for them. The move continues a larger restructuring effort at Alphabet, which last year eliminated around 12,000 positions across different divisions as it sharpened its focus on artificial intelligence and data infrastructure.

Verily’s medical device group had worked on a wide range of projects, from connected therapies for diabetes to surgical robotics. Among its most notable contributions were the Dexcom G7 continuous glucose monitor, which is widely used in diabetes management, and the Stargazer VNRC drug targeting system, which advanced approaches to precision medicine. In a note to employees, CEO Stephen Gillett recognized these achievements as important steps in improving patient care and furthering medical research.

Despite these milestones, Verily is now concentrating its efforts on what Gillett described as its “core mission”: precision health, data, and AI. This shift aligns with Alphabet’s broader strategy to invest heavily in artificial intelligence across its businesses. By narrowing its focus, Verily aims to position itself as a leader in applying advanced data science and AI to healthcare, a direction the company believes will yield greater impact in the long term.