Apple AI Chief John Giannandrea Steps Down Amid Siri Delays

In a significant leadership change, Apple announced that its AI chief John Giannandrea will retire by spring 2026 after serving as an advisor through the transition. Amar Subramanya, who previously held senior AI roles at Microsoft and Google, will step in as vice president of AI. He will report to Craig Federighi and take charge of Apple’s Foundation Models, machine learning research, and AI safety and evaluation.

Apple Reshuffles AI Leadership Following Siri Setback

Giannandrea’s exit comes after Apple struggled to deliver its upgraded Siri. Two major teams previously under his leadership, AI Infrastructure and Search and Knowledge, will now move to Sabih Khan and Eddy Cue. Khan currently serves as Apple’s COO, while Cue continues to lead the company’s services division.

The restructuring follows Apple’s inability to ship the promised “Apple Intelligence” Siri upgrade that was showcased at WWDC 2024 and promoted during the iPhone 16 launch. Apple later confirmed it could not meet the release timeline and postponed the updated Siri to spring 2026.

Internal Strains and Staffing Challenges

The Siri delay caused internal pressure and triggered a wave of AI team departures. Apple has been racing to improve areas such as personal context, on-screen awareness, and deeper app integration. There are now reports that Apple is working with Google to strengthen the next wave of Apple Intelligence features expected next year.

CEO Tim Cook thanked Giannandrea for his work and expressed confidence in Subramanya. He also highlighted Craig Federighi’s ongoing leadership in Apple’s AI roadmap and next-generation Siri rollout.

What Apple’s Next Move Means for Siri

Apple says it is now positioned to accelerate its work on intelligent and privacy-focused AI experiences across its devices. The next Siri update is expected to be more personalized, more context aware, and more deeply connected to apps when it launches in 2026.

The coming year will be crucial as users frustrated by delays and analysts tracking Apple’s AI direction look for signs that the company can catch up and deliver on its promises.