A recent report highlights that Apple’s artificial intelligence team is significantly larger than previously disclosed, following a major internal restructuring that moved robotics under the hardware division and Siri under the Vision Pro team while refocusing Apple’s dedicated AI group on foundational models. This reorganization comes amid a broader leadership shake-up in the company’s AI division that includes the retirement of senior AI executive John Giannandrea and the hiring of a new vice president of AI, signaling a strategic pivot in how Apple approaches machine learning and competitive pressures in the AI landscape.
Sources: Apple Insider, Business Chief
Key Takeaways
Apple’s AI organization is larger and more segmented than external reporting suggested, with responsibilities redistributed across hardware and product groups.
Senior leadership changes, including the retirement of a high-profile AI executive and new hires, underscore a shift in strategy as Apple aims to compete more effectively in foundational AI models and services.
The restructure reflects Apple’s broader challenge of integrating AI capabilities—particularly Siri and machine learning research—into products while balancing privacy and innovation.
In-Depth
Apple’s ongoing effort to ramp up its artificial intelligence capabilities is drawing fresh scrutiny and strategic repositioning as the company adapts to fierce competition in machine learning and generative AI. After years of being labeled a laggard compared to rivals like Google and OpenAI, Apple quietly bolstered its internal AI team far beyond what was publicly known, reshuffling its internal reporting structure to clarify focus areas and accelerate development on critical technologies. The most recent report indicates that robotics engineering was shifted under the hardware chief’s purview and Siri development was aligned with the Vision Pro team, leaving a core AI division to concentrate on foundation models and fundamental research. This restructuring is a tacit acknowledgment that the previous structure, which spread AI responsibilities across disparate parts of the company, may have hampered cohesive progress.
At the same time, Apple announced the retirement of John Giannandrea, its senior vice president of Machine Learning and AI Strategy, who has been a central figure in the company’s AI vision. His departure—timed for spring 2026—comes with the appointment of Amar Subramanya as vice president of AI, signaling leadership continuity but also a philosophical shift in approach. Subramanya’s role will focus intensely on Apple’s foundation models, machine learning research, and AI safety, reporting directly to senior executives. These changes reflect a broader reevaluation of how Apple integrates AI into its ecosystem amid pressures to innovate quickly without compromising its long-held commitments to user privacy and device-centric performance.
Critics outside Apple point to the leadership shifts and reorganization as signs of internal struggle, arguing that the company has lagged in delivering on high-profile AI features and is only now catching up. Supporters counter that Apple’s methodical, privacy-first stance differentiates its approach and positions it for long-term success. Regardless of perspective, the reshuffle underscores the reality that Apple’s path to AI prominence involves not just more engineers but a realignment of priorities and clearer strategic focus. The company appears determined to leverage its vast resources to build competitive AI assets, but the effectiveness of these moves will become clearer only as foundation models and integrated AI features begin to roll out to consumers.
Overall, Apple’s AI expansion and leadership overhaul signal a company in transition, grappling with how to honor its heritage of meticulous product development while keeping pace in a domain defined by rapid innovation and immense market demand. The coming year will be pivotal in determining whether these internal adjustments translate into tangible advances that can rival the breakthroughs made by AI pioneers.