Apple has announced a significant shift in its AI leadership, with Amar Subramanya appointed as the new Vice President of AI, succeeding John Giannandrea, who will retire in Spring 2026. Giannandrea will serve as an advisor to the company until his retirement. This transition comes as Apple aims to bolster its artificial intelligence efforts and catch up with rivals in the rapidly evolving AI landscape.
Subramanya, described by Apple as a "renowned AI researcher," brings a wealth of experience to the role. He previously held the position of Corporate Vice President of AI at Microsoft. Before his time at Microsoft, Subramanya spent 16 years at Google, where he was the Head of Engineering for Gemini, Google's AI assistant. According to his LinkedIn profile, he also worked within Google's DeepMind division, a prominent hub for AI research. Subramanya holds a Bachelor of Engineering in Electrical, Electronics, and Communication Engineering from Bangalore University and a PhD from the University of Washington.
In his new role at Apple, Subramanya will report to Craig Federighi, Senior Vice President of Software Engineering. He will be responsible for leading critical areas, including Apple Foundation Models, ML (Machine Learning) research, and AI Safety and Evaluation. Apple CEO Tim Cook expressed his confidence in Federighi's leadership in driving Apple's AI ambitions, stating that Federighi has been "instrumental" in overseeing the company's efforts to bring a more personalized Siri to users.
Giannandrea joined Apple in 2018 as Senior Vice President of Machine Learning and AI Strategy, reporting directly to CEO Tim Cook. His arrival was initially seen as a major step forward for Apple's AI capabilities. Before Apple, Giannandrea spent eight years at Google, where he led the Machine Intelligence, Research, and Search teams. He also co-founded two technology companies, Tellme Networks and Metaweb Technologies. Giannandrea's departure comes after Apple faced internal challenges and delays in its AI development, most notably with the rollout of its next-generation Siri. Some of the teams that Giannandrea oversaw will transition to Sabih Khan, Apple’s Chief Operating Officer, and Eddy Cue, who oversees Apple services.
The leadership change signals Apple's commitment to accelerating its AI initiatives. The company aims to deliver "intelligent, trusted, and profoundly personal experiences" with its new AI team. Apple has been adding incremental AI features, such as real-time language translation in AirPods and an AI-generated voice for chats in its fitness app. However, major changes, particularly to Siri, have been repeatedly postponed. The appointment of Subramanya suggests a tighter focus on Apple's AI strategy as it prepares a revamped Siri for 2026.
Tim Cook thanked Giannandrea for his contributions to Apple, stating, "We are thankful for the role John played in building and advancing our AI work, helping Apple continue to innovate and enrich the lives of our users". He also welcomed Subramanya, expressing confidence in his expertise and leadership.
