Apple Taps Google & Microsoft Veteran to Lead AI Strategy
▼ Summary
– Apple has appointed Amar Subramanya, a veteran of Google and Microsoft, as its new vice president of AI, succeeding John Giannandrea who will retire in spring 2026.
– Subramanya will report to software chief Craig Federighi and lead Apple’s foundation models, machine learning research, and AI safety, central to future AI features across Apple products.
– He brings over two decades of AI expertise, having most recently worked on Microsoft Copilot and previously led engineering for Google’s Gemini AI assistant.
– This leadership change occurs as Apple faces criticism for lagging behind rivals like Google and Microsoft in deploying generative AI features and system-wide AI tools.
– Outgoing AI chief John Giannandrea, who built Apple’s current AI infrastructure, will remain as an advisor until his retirement to ensure a smooth transition.
Apple has appointed a new leader to steer its artificial intelligence initiatives, placing a seasoned technology executive with deep experience from its major rivals at the helm. Amar Subramanya, a veteran of both Google and Microsoft, is taking over as vice president of AI. He succeeds John Giannandrea, who will step down and retire in the spring of 2026 after leading Apple’s AI efforts since 2018. This leadership change represents one of the company’s most significant moves since the introduction of Apple Intelligence last year.
In an internal announcement, Apple stated that Subramanya will report directly to software engineering chief Craig Federighi. His mandate will encompass Apple Foundation Models, machine learning research, and AI Safety and Evaluation. This puts him in charge of the core technology that will power future AI capabilities across iPhones, Macs, iPads, and Apple’s suite of services. Responsibilities previously managed by Giannandrea will be redistributed to COO Sabih Khan and services head Eddy Cue.
Subramanya brings over twenty years of specialized experience in machine learning and large-scale AI systems to the role. His career trajectory includes a recent, brief stint at Microsoft, where he served as corporate vice president of AI. There, he worked on the foundation models that drive products like Microsoft Copilot. Prior to that, he spent sixteen years at Google, ultimately rising to become the head of engineering for Gemini, Google’s flagship generative AI assistant. His work at Google involved bridging the gap between advanced machine learning research and the deployment of those technologies into consumer products at a massive scale, including collaborations with Google’s DeepMind research unit.
His academic and professional background is firmly rooted in AI. Subramanya earned a bachelor’s degree in India before completing a PhD in computer science at the University of Washington, where he specialized in semi-supervised learning. This field focuses on training AI systems effectively even when large amounts of labeled data are unavailable. His expertise is further demonstrated by a co-authored book on graph-based learning and numerous research papers covering natural language processing and speech technologies.
This executive shift occurs at a critical time for Apple. The company has faced consistent analysis for what some perceive as a slower pace in deploying generative AI features compared to competitors like Google, Microsoft, OpenAI, and Anthropic. While Apple was a pioneer with the Siri voice assistant, rivals have since accelerated, embedding AI copilots and assistants deeply into user workflows. Apple’s strategy has emphasized a more cautious approach, prioritizing on-device processing and user privacy as part of its Apple Intelligence framework.
John Giannandrea, who joined Apple from Google in 2018, was instrumental in constructing the company’s existing AI infrastructure, including its foundation models and knowledge systems. He will remain with Apple as an advisor until his retirement, ensuring a smooth transition for Subramanya.
Apple CEO Tim Cook characterized the leadership change as both an acknowledgment of past contributions and a step forward for the company’s AI future. In the announcement, Cook expressed gratitude for Giannandrea’s work in advancing Apple’s AI capabilities and enriching user experiences. He also highlighted the central role of AI in Apple’s strategy, welcoming Subramanya’s “extraordinary AI expertise” to the company’s leadership team.
(Source: Fortune)
