Apple AI Chief John Giannandrea Departs After Siri Setbacks

Apple has officially removed John Giannandrea from its leadership page. The former head of artificial intelligence is retiring from the company next spring. His departure was announced earlier this week.

Apple confirmed Giannandrea will serve as an advisor until his formal exit. The move follows significant delays to Apple’s next-generation Siri features. This leadership change marks a pivotal moment for the company’s AI ambitions.

A Swift Transition and New Leadership

Apple updated its executive website shortly after the retirement news. Former Microsoft AI executive Amar Subramanya is set to take over. According to reports, Subramanya will report to software chief Craig Federighi.

He is not yet listed on Apple’s official leadership page. Subramanya will lead Apple Foundation Models and machine learning research. Teams under Giannandrea are being redistributed to other senior leaders.

AI Infrastructure and Search teams are shifting to other executives. This includes hardware chief Sabih Khan and services head Eddy Cue. The reorganization aims to streamline Apple’s AI development efforts moving forward.

Broader Impact and Analysis

Giannandrea’s exit follows the high-profile delay of Apple Intelligence features. Promised Siri upgrades were marketed with the iPhone 16 launch. The smarter assistant was then postponed for up to a year.

Internal reports cited by trusted sources like Reuters point to development challenges. These included stringent privacy rules and internal team conflicts. Apple reportedly restructured the Siri team and adjusted reporting lines earlier this year.

The company has not publicly commented on the specific reasons for the delays. Industry analysts see this leadership change as a critical reset. Apple is under pressure to deliver competitive AI features to its massive user base.

This leadership shift underscores Apple’s urgent efforts to refocus its AI strategy. The departure of John Giannandrea opens a new chapter for the company’s intelligent software. All eyes are now on the new AI chief to deliver the next-generation Siri experience.

Info at your fingertips

Who is replacing John Giannandrea at Apple?

Amar Subramanya is taking over as Vice President of AI. He previously served as a corporate vice president of AI at Microsoft. Subramanya will report directly to Apple’s software engineering chief.

Why did John Giannandrea leave Apple?

Apple announced his retirement, effective spring 2026. The departure follows significant delays to key AI projects like the new Siri. Internal reports have pointed to leadership and development challenges within the AI division.

What happened with Apple’s new Siri?

Apple announced advanced Siri features called Apple Intelligence in June. The company then delayed their launch for up to a full year. This delay was a major factor preceding the leadership change.

Which teams did Giannandrea oversee?

He was responsible for Siri, machine learning, and AI strategy. His purview included Core ML and various AI research initiatives. Some of these teams are now moving under other Apple executives.

Where did Giannandrea work before Apple?

He was a senior vice president of engineering at Google. Giannandrea joined Apple in 2018 to lead its machine learning efforts. His hiring was seen as a major coup for Apple’s AI ambitions at the time.