John Giannandrea.
David Paul Morris | Bloomberg | Getty Photos
Apple’s AI chief is stepping down, the corporate introduced Monday in essentially the most seen shake up but to the iPhone maker’s synthetic intelligence group since launching its Apple Intelligence suite in 2024.
John Giannandrea, who held the place since becoming a member of the corporate in 2018, can be changed by Amar Subramanya, an AI researcher who most lately labored for Microsoft and beforehand was a part of Google’s DeepMind AI unit, in keeping with his LinkedIn profile.
Giannandrea was a senior vice chairman and reported to Apple CEO Tim Cook dinner. He’ll proceed to function an advisor till retiring subsequent spring, Apple stated.
The corporate’s change in AI management comes as specialists this yr have stated Apple has fallen behind its tech friends in synthetic intelligence, a expertise area that has been reinvigorated since OpenAI launched ChatGPT in 2022.
Apple Intelligence, which was supposed to place Apple alongside AI leaders like OpenAI and Google, has not been well-reviewed by customers and critics. Earlier this yr, one among its most important facets, a considerably improved Siri assistant, was delayed till 2026, signaling improvement challenges.
Subramanya will function Apple’s vice chairman of AI, and can report back to software program chief Craig Federighi, the corporate stated.
In a press release, Cook dinner stated Federighi has already been enjoying a key position in Apple’s AI efforts.
“Along with rising his management group and AI obligations with Amar’s becoming a member of, Craig has been instrumental in driving our AI efforts, together with overseeing our work to carry a extra customized Siri to customers subsequent yr,” Cook dinner stated in a press release.
Subramanya will lead groups engaged on Apple’s basis fashions, analysis and AI security. Different groups beforehand beneath Giannandrea will transfer beneath COO Sabih Khan and providers chief Eddy Cue, Apple stated.
Though Apple shares are up 16% in 2025, they’ve lagged many different massive tech firms as traders say the iPhone maker has fallen behind its friends which are investing billions into AI chips and frontier AI fashions.
Apple stated in August that it was “considerably rising” the quantity it spends on AI, and Cook dinner has stated it is a “profound” expertise. Apple has struck a cope with chief OpenAI to combine ChatGPT into a few of its merchandise, like Siri.
However Apple is enjoying a unique recreation than firms like Microsoft, Google, and Meta. It is spending a lot much less on infrastructure for the expertise. Apple additionally prefers its AI to run on its units, as a substitute of speaking again to extra highly effective computer systems within the cloud.
