Apple appoints new AI chief as JOHN GIANNANDREA steps down

Wednesday, December 3, 2025 -Apple has just shaken up its artificial intelligence leadership, replacing longtime AI chief John Giannandrea with veteran AI engineer Amar Subramanya. Giannandrea, who has led Apple’s AI and machine-learning strategy since 2018, will remain in an advisory role through spring 2026 before retiring.

Subramanya arrives from Microsoft, where he most recently served as Corporate VP of AI, and before that spent 16 years at Google working on flagship projects including the Gemini assistant. His new responsibilities at Apple will include overseeing “Apple Foundation Models,” machine-learning research, and AI safety, reporting directly to software chief Craig Federighi.

The shake-up signals a renewed sense of urgency at Apple. After the somewhat underwhelming launch of Apple Intelligence in 2024 and delays in rolling out a smarter Siri upgrade initially set for 2025, many observers viewed Apple’s AI push as lagging behind rivals. With Subramanya — a figure who intimately understands Google- and Microsoft-style AI — now at the helm, Apple appears to be betting on a faster, more competitive AI pivot.