Google's layoffs have affected thousands of employees. The tech company cited a weak economy for the job cuts and is restructuring to focus on AI.

Caitlin O'Kane is a New York City journalist who works on the CBS News social media team as a senior manager of content and production. She writes about a variety of topics and produces "The Uplift," CBS News' streaming show that focuses on good news.

For many people Google is search — they’ve simply never considered an alternative. But there are plenty of search engines other than Google, offering benefits such as increased privacy, environmental perks and AI features. Opting for one of the ...