Resignation of Apple’s AI Chief Amid Siri Struggles

Apple AI Chief John Giannandrea Steps Down; Amar Subramanya Takes Over

In a surprising move, Apple’s AI chief, John Giannandrea, has announced his decision to step down from his position. This development, revealed on Monday, comes at a crucial time for the tech giant as it continues to face challenges with its AI-powered virtual assistant, Siri.

Replacing Giannandrea is Amar Subramanya, who brings a wealth of experience to the role. Subramanya, who previously spent 16 years at Google and later served as the corporate VP of AI at Microsoft, will now serve as Apple’s vice president of AI. In his new position, Subramanya will be responsible for overseeing the development of Apple’s AI models, machine learning research, and AI safety protocols.

Giannandrea, renowned for his work at Google where he led AI and Search efforts, joined Apple in 2018 with the goal of enhancing the company’s voice assistant, Siri.

Earlier this year, Apple faced setbacks with the delayed release of a more personalized Siri. CEO Tim Cook reportedly expressed concerns about Giannandrea’s leadership, leading to the appointment of Mike Rockwell to oversee the AI team. Giannandrea will transition into an advisory role before retiring in 2026.

Apple has high hopes for Subramanya, citing his track record of integrating AI research into products. Subramanya will report to Apple software SVP Craig Federighi and play a key role in the development of future Apple Intelligence features. The company aims to launch an improved Siri next spring, with plans to leverage Google’s Gemini AI model for new functionalities.

Cook expressed optimism about the addition of Subramanya to Apple’s leadership team, emphasizing the importance of AI in the company’s strategy. Federighi, responsible for spearheading AI efforts, is committed to delivering a more personalized Siri experience to users in the coming year.