Apple to revamp AI team after announcing top executive's departure

Apple is shaking up its AI ranks, poaching a Microsoft executive and reorganizing after announcing the retirement of its top AI leader, whose tenure was defined by the company’s artificial-intelligence struggles.

- Rolfe Winkler

John Giannandrea , the iPhone maker's senior vice president in charge of AI strategy, who had reported directly to Chief Executive Tim Cook , is stepping down, the company announced on Monday, and his duties will be split among other senior vice presidents responsible for software engineering, services and operations. Giannandrea, 60 years old, will remain in an advisory role until his retirement next spring.

Amar Subramanya, who helped oversee Google’s Gemini chatbot before decamping to Microsoft earlier this year, will join Apple as vice president of AI, one rung lower than where Giannandrea was in the organization chart. Subramanya will report to the company’s head of software, Craig Federighi.

The reorganization heralds a new era for Apple’s AI work, which has failed to keep up with rivals after the company announced a number of planned features in 2024 that it hasn't been able to release.