Apple's head of artificial intelligence, John Giannandrea, is stepping down from his role, with plans to retire early in 2026. The move comes as the tech giant faces increasing scrutiny for lagging behind competitors in the development and rollout of generative AI features, particularly concerning its long-promised overhaul of the Siri voice assistant. Giannandrea will transition to an advisory role during his remaining tenure.
Key Takeaways
- John Giannandrea, Apple's Senior Vice President of Machine Learning and AI Strategy, is retiring in early 2026.
- Apple has been criticised for falling behind rivals like Google and OpenAI in generative AI.
- Amar Subramanya, a former Google and Microsoft executive, will succeed Giannandrea.
- An anticipated AI-powered upgrade to Siri has faced repeated delays.
A Shift in Leadership
John Giannandrea, who joined Apple in 2018, will be succeeded by Amar Subramanya. Subramanya brings a wealth of experience, having previously served as Corporate Vice President of AI at Microsoft and spending 16 years at Google, where he led engineering for the Gemini AI Assistant. He will report to Craig Federighi, Apple's head of software engineering, who has taken on a more prominent role in the company's AI initiatives.
The Generative AI Lag
Apple unveiled its AI product suite, Apple Intelligence, in June 2024. However, the company has been perceived as slower than competitors in integrating advanced generative AI capabilities into its products. While Apple has introduced features like real-time language translation in AirPods and an AI-generated voice for its fitness app, these are seen as incremental updates compared to the rapid advancements made by rivals. The much-anticipated, more personalised Siri upgrade has been repeatedly postponed, with the company citing the need to meet its quality standards.
Competitive Pressures
In recent years, tech giants such as Google, Microsoft, and OpenAI have been at the forefront of releasing sophisticated AI models and features. This has placed significant pressure on Apple to demonstrate its own progress in a field that is rapidly reshaping how users interact with technology. Apple's decision to cancel its self-driving car project and reallocate engineers to AI development underscores the company's strategic pivot. The delayed Siri upgrade, now slated for release next year, is seen as a critical test for Apple's AI ambitions.