John Giannandrea.
David Paul Morris | Bloomberg | Getty Photographs
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 line with his LinkedIn profile.
Giannandrea was a senior vp 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 know-how subject 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 in all its most crucial facets, a considerably improved Siri assistant, was delayed till 2026, signaling improvement challenges.
Subramanya will function Apple’s vp of AI, and can report back to software program chief Craig Federighi, the corporate stated.
In an announcement, Cook dinner stated Federighi has already been taking part in a key position in Apple’s AI efforts.
“Along with rising his management crew and AI duties with Amar’s becoming a member of, Craig has been instrumental in driving our AI efforts, together with overseeing our work to convey a extra customized Siri to customers subsequent yr,” Cook dinner stated in an announcement.
Subramanya will lead groups engaged on Apple’s basis fashions, analysis and AI security. Different groups beforehand below Giannandrea will transfer below COO Sabih Khan and providers chief Eddy Cue, Apple stated.
Though Apple shares are up 16% in 2025, they’ve lagged many different huge tech corporations as buyers say the iPhone maker has fallen behind its friends which can be investing billions into AI chips and frontier AI fashions.
Apple stated in August that it was “considerably growing” the quantity it spends on AI, and Cook dinner has stated it is a “profound” know-how. Apple has struck a cope with chief OpenAI to combine ChatGPT into a few of its merchandise, like Siri.
However Apple is taking part in a unique sport than corporations like Microsoft, Google, and Meta. It is spending a lot much less on infrastructure for the know-how. Apple additionally prefers its AI to run on its units, as an alternative of speaking again to extra highly effective computer systems within the cloud. 1
Apple this yr additionally noticed Jony Ive, its legendary {hardware} designer who helped late co-founder Steve Jobs invent the iPhone, promote his startup io for $6.4 billion to OpenAI, with the intention of serving to the AI lab launch its personal {hardware}.
Analysts say that Apple has constructed a loyalty moat amongst its prospects for the reason that iPhone launched in 2007, however AI-driven {hardware} is on its means, with Ive and OpenAI CEO Sam Altman final month saying that they’ve already accomplished their first prototypes and will reveal them in two years or much less.
