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- Product & Design Pulse v47
Product & Design Pulse v47
Figma IPO and Microsoft Layoffs
Malcom Jones
July 07, 2025
Welcome to this week’s edition of Product & Design Pulse, where we explore the latest in tech, product, design, and innovation! Last week, Google’s AI Overviews drew fresh antitrust heat in the EU, as publishers argued the feature unfairly siphons traffic without consent. Meanwhile, the company was also hit with a $314 million verdict in the U.S. for collecting location data without permission. Figma officially filed to go public, and Apple is reportedly exploring Claude or ChatGPT to replace Siri’s underperforming voice assistant. Netflix is leaning further into live programming with music shows and celebrity interviews, while Microsoft plans to lay off up to 9,000 employees in a major restructuring. On the product front, Spotify is letting users personalize Discover Weekly playlists, Google Photos got a redesign, and Grammarly announced plans to acquire Superhuman to bolster its AI productivity suite.
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Last week…
Google’s AI Overviews Hit by EU Antitrust Complaint
A coalition of independent publishers has filed an antitrust complaint with the European Commission, arguing that Google’s AI Overviews unfairly divert traffic and revenue by summarizing content without permission. The complaint claims publishers weren’t given an opt-out option, and that the summaries threaten the sustainability of independent journalism. Google defended the feature, but regulators in both the EU and UK are now reviewing the matter.
Figma has officially filed its S-1 with the SEC, setting the stage for a public offering. The design platform highlights strong momentum, including widespread enterprise adoption and growing revenue, as it looks to scale further. This marks a major milestone for one of the most influential design tools in the modern product development stack.
Netflix Explores Live Music Shows and Celebrity Interviews
Netflix is expanding its push into live programming with new ideas like music awards shows, concerts, and celebrity interviews, potentially in partnership with Spotify. The company is also considering a reboot of “Star Search” as it broadens its content portfolio to attract new viewers and advertisers. These efforts follow earlier live event successes including NFL games and high-profile boxing matches.
Microsoft to Lay Off Up to 9,000 Employees
Microsoft is planning to cut as many as 9,000 jobs, mostly in retail and sales, as part of a company-wide restructuring. The layoffs are expected to begin in the coming months and are aimed at streamlining operations. This follows earlier cost-cutting initiatives in response to shifting priorities in AI and enterprise.
Google Hit with $314 Million Verdict in Data Privacy Case
A U.S. jury has ordered Google to pay $314 million in a class action suit over improperly collecting cellular location data without user consent. Plaintiffs argued that Google violated privacy rights by tracking users even when location services were turned off. The company plans to appeal the ruling.
Apple Considers Replacing Siri’s AI with Claude or ChatGPT
Apple is reportedly exploring the use of third-party language models—such as Anthropic’s Claude or OpenAI’s ChatGPT—to power future versions of Siri. This move signals growing frustration with Siri’s current limitations and a desire to close the AI capability gap. If adopted, it could mark a significant shift in Apple’s approach to voice and assistant technology.
Proton Sues Apple Over App Store Privacy Labels
Privacy-focused tech company Proton has filed a lawsuit against Apple, claiming that its App Store privacy labels mislead users and unfairly penalize smaller developers. Proton argues the current system is deceptive and gives Apple’s own apps an unfair advantage. The lawsuit adds to growing scrutiny over Apple’s control of its app ecosystem.
