🔍 Summary:
Apple Inc. is experiencing a significant reshuffling of its executive team as it seeks to revitalize its artificial intelligence (AI) initiatives, which have faced numerous setbacks. CEO Tim Cook has shifted Mike Rockwell, previously the head of the Vision Products Group, to oversee the Siri virtual assistant, removing it from the control of John Giannandrea, the current AI chief. This decision follows a period of dissatisfaction with the progress under Giannandrea’s leadership, particularly with the development of new Siri features which have been delayed and were not ready for the launch of the iPhone 16 as previously advertised.
Rockwell, who has a strong track record in hardware development, including the technically advanced but commercially challenging Vision Pro headset, will now report to Craig Federighi, Apple’s senior vice president of software engineering. This move is part of a broader strategy to more deeply integrate AI into Apple’s future products, potentially leveraging Rockwell’s hardware experience.
Despite these changes, Giannandrea will remain at Apple, continuing to oversee other AI research and development efforts. This restructuring comes at a time when Apple’s AI technology is perceived as lagging behind its industry rivals, prompting a strategic shift to regain competitive ground. The changes were discussed during Apple’s secretive annual summit of senior leaders, reflecting the company’s urgent focus on improving its AI capabilities.
📌 Source: https://finance.yahoo.com/news/apple-shuffles-ai-executive-ranks-162500488.html