In a significant strategic move, Apple Inc. has announced a major leadership change at the helm of its artificial intelligence division. The tech giant has appointed Amar Subramanya, a seasoned executive with stints at Microsoft and Google, as its new AI chief. He will succeed John Giannandrea, who is stepping down and will retire in the spring of 2026 after serving as an advisor.
Why Apple is Shaking Up Its AI Leadership Now
The leadership transition, announced by the company on Monday, comes at a critical juncture for Apple. The company is under increasing pressure from analysts and the industry, who suggest it is lagging behind rivals like Microsoft, Google, and Meta in the advanced artificial intelligence arena. Giannandrea, who joined Apple in 2018 as Senior Vice President of Machine Learning and AI Strategy, has been a key figure but his departure coincides with a period of intense scrutiny.
Apple's answer to the AI revolution, Apple Intelligence, launched in 2024, has received a mixed response from users and critics. A central pillar of this suite, a completely revamped and more powerful Siri assistant, has faced delays and is now slated for release only in 2026. This postponement is widely seen as indicative of the development challenges Apple is navigating internally as it races to catch up.
Who is Apple's New AI Head, Amar Subramanya?
Amar Subramanya brings a wealth of experience from the forefront of AI research. His career includes pivotal roles at two of Apple's biggest competitors. Prior to this appointment, he worked at Microsoft and, before that, was part of Google's DeepMind unit, one of the world's most renowned AI research labs.
At Apple, Subramanya will take on the role of Vice President of AI, reporting directly to Craig Federighi, Apple's Senior Vice President of Software Engineering. His mandate will include leading teams focused on foundation models, AI research, and AI safety. Following this restructuring, some of Giannandrea's former responsibilities will be redistributed to Chief Operating Officer Sabih Khan and services chief Eddy Cue.
Apple CEO Tim Cook endorsed the new structure, highlighting Federighi's instrumental role. "Craig has been instrumental in driving our AI efforts, including overseeing our work to bring a more personalised Siri to users next year," Cook stated, adding that Subramanya's arrival strengthens this leadership team.
Can Apple Bridge the Gap with AI Competitors?
Despite a 16% rise in its share price in 2025, Apple's stock performance still trails behind many of its tech peers. These competitors are investing billions into AI data centres, proprietary chips, and cutting-edge models. Analysts point out that Apple's more conservative approach to infrastructure spending has positioned it as a follower in this high-stakes race.
Apple has countered by emphasizing a "significant increase" in its AI budget, with Tim Cook consistently calling AI a "profound" technology. The company has also entered a partnership with OpenAI to integrate ChatGPT into its ecosystem, including Siri.
However, Apple remains committed to a distinct path, prioritizing on-device processing over cloud-based computation. This strategy champions user privacy and device efficiency but requires the creation of exceptionally optimized AI models, presenting a unique technical hurdle.
The external landscape adds another layer of complexity. The recent news that Apple's former design chief, Jony Ive, sold his hardware startup to OpenAI for $6.4 billion to collaborate on AI hardware, signals that the battle is extending beyond software. With prototypes already developed, this move questions how Apple will maintain its historic hardware dominance in an AI-first future.
Industry observers conclude that while Apple's brand loyalty is unmatched, the next major shift in consumer hardware will likely be defined by artificial intelligence. This makes leadership decisions, like bringing in Amar Subramanya, crucial for Apple's ambition to not just participate, but lead in the next era of technology.
