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A seasoned engineer from Google and Microsoft, Amar Subramany, is taking over from Apple’s AI head, John Giannandrea, as part of a restructuring within the company’s artificial intelligence department.

Key points

The leader of Apple’s artificial intelligence division, John Giannandrea, is set to step down in early 2026. Apple is facing scrutiny for being behind its rivals in the field of AI technology. The company has hired an experienced engineer from Google and Microsoft.

Apple revealed on Monday that its artificial intelligence chief, John Giannandrea, is leaving his position.

Giannandrea, who oversaw Machine Learning and AI Strategy for seven years, is set to retire in spring 2026, according to a company announcement. During his final months with the tech firm, Giannandrea will continue in an advisory role.

He will be succeeded by Amar Subramanya, who has taken on the role of vice president of AI at Apple, according to the company.

Subramanya had a brief tenure as a corporate vice president of AI at Microsoft.

Previously, he worked for 16 years at Google, serving as the engineering lead for the Gemini digital assistant.

Apple faces criticism for not keeping up with competitors in the development of artificial intelligence

Apple has come under scrutiny for being behind its rivals in creating AI-powered features for its devices, such as its widely-used iPhones.

Earlier this year, Apple also pushed back the launch of a more advanced Siri digital assistant to 2026.

In the meantime, Google, Microsoft, OpenAI, and other technology competitors have been launching increasingly advanced AI models and functionalities in a highly competitive effort to dominate the field.

Edited by: Roshni Majumdar

Author: Kate Hairsine (with AFP)