Apple said John Giannandrea, who led its Machine Learning and AI Strategy for seven years, will retire in spring 2026. He will remain with the company in an advisory capacity through his final months to help with the transition.
Giannandrea’s departure ends a long run shaping Apple’s approach to on-device intelligence and machine-learning initiatives. His role included guiding teams working on Siri, core AI infrastructure, and features across Apple devices.
Filling the position is Amar Subramanya, who has joined Apple as vice president of AI. Subramanya comes from a background that includes 16 years at Google, where he served as head of engineering for the Gemini digital assistant, and a recent stint as corporate vice president of AI at Microsoft.
The leadership change arrives amid growing scrutiny of Apple’s pace in AI. Critics say Apple has lagged behind competitors in introducing advanced AI features on products like the iPhone. The company pushed a more capable Siri rollout into 2026, while rivals such as Google, Microsoft and OpenAI continue to ship rapid updates to models and user-facing features.
Apple framed the move as part of a broader effort to accelerate its AI work under new leadership. Subramanya’s experience at major AI programs and product teams is expected to play a central role as Apple looks to narrow the gap with competitors and expand AI capabilities across its ecosystem.
Edited by: Roshni Majumdar