Brave, a web browser and search startup, has recently laid off 27 employees across various departments, according to sources at TechCrunch. The company has confirmed the layoffs but has not provided details on the total remaining staff or the reasons behind the cuts. This reduction represents a significant portion of Brave’s workforce, with PitchBook estimating the company to have around 191 employees.
This latest round of layoffs comes just months after Brave cut 9% of its workforce last October, citing the need for cost management in a challenging economic climate.
Brave has been focusing on integrating AI features into its products, following the introduction of several crypto-related functionalities. The company recently rolled out its AI assistant, Leo, across desktop, Android, iPad, and iPhone platforms.
In June, Brave integrated search results with its Leo chatbot, allowing users to access sports scores or article context without leaving the page. Additionally, Brave has introduced a Leo Premium subscription priced at $14.99 per month for improved models and higher usage limits.
Earlier this month, Brave also launched a feature that allows users to link their own models to the browser after a period of testing.
It is unclear whether the expenses related to developing and maintaining these AI-focused features contributed to the recent wave of layoffs at Brave.
