Apple has announced a significant leadership change in its artificial intelligence division, appointing Amar Subramanya as the new head of AI, effective immediately. Subramanya replaces John Giannandrea, who has served as Apple’s AI chief since 2018 and will remain with the company as an advisor until spring.
Amar Subramanya brings over 16 years of experience from Google and most recently held a key role at Microsoft, where he led the engineering for the Gemini Assistant. This appointment underscores Apple’s commitment to strengthening its AI initiatives amid ongoing challenges following the launch of Apple Intelligence, which has faced criticism since its debut in October 2024.
This leadership shake-up comes in the wake of disappointing reviews of Apple Intelligence, which has struggled to establish a foothold in the competitive AI landscape. The system has been criticized for providing inaccurate information, including false headlines and significant errors, further complicating Apple’s AI reputation. The fallout has prompted delays in updates to Siri, Apple’s voice assistant, and raised concerns about internal communication and strategic direction within the company.
According to a Bloomberg investigation, the AI and marketing teams’ misalignment and leadership changes have led to a decline in morale and productivity, with some researchers leaving for competitors like OpenAI and Meta. Reports indicate that Apple may now be turning to Google’s Gemini technology to enhance Siri’s capabilities, marking a surprising shift given the longstanding rivalry between the two tech giants.
As Subramanya steps into his new role, he will report directly to Craig Federighi and is tasked with revitalizing Apple’s AI strategies amidst fierce competition. Apple’s approach focuses on on-device AI processing, leveraging its proprietary Silicon chips to prioritize user privacy, even as competitors invest heavily in cloud-based AI solutions. However, whether this model will keep Apple at the forefront of AI innovation remains to be seen, as the company navigates the challenges of both technology and market perception.
