Apple is making a significant shift in its artificial intelligence strategy by appointing Amar Subramanya as vice president of AI. This move comes after John Giannandrea, who has been leading Apple’s AI efforts since 2018, announced his retirement set for spring 2026. Subramanya’s extensive experience in the field, including his roles at both Microsoft and Google, positions him to influence the future of AI functionalities across Apple’s product ecosystem, including the iPhone, Mac, and iPad.
In his new role, Subramanya will report directly to Apple’s software chief Craig Federighi and will oversee critical areas such as Apple Foundation Models, machine learning research, and AI safety assessments. Responsibilities that were previously handled by Giannandrea will now be distributed among COO Sabih Khan and Eddy Cue, who is in charge of Apple’s services division.
Subramanya brings over 20 years of experience in machine learning and AI, having most recently served as Microsoft’s corporate vice president of AI. There, he contributed to foundational models that enhance Microsoft’s productivity tools and enterprise services. Prior to his stint at Microsoft, he spent 16 years at Google, rising through the ranks to become the head of engineering for Gemini, Google’s flagship generative AI assistant.
His strong educational background includes a bachelor’s degree in electronics and communications engineering from Bangalore University and a PhD in computer science from the University of Washington, where he specialized in semi-supervised learning—a key area for training AI systems with limited labeled data.
This leadership change comes at a time when Apple is under scrutiny for lagging behind competitors like Google and Microsoft in adopting generative AI technologies, particularly in voice assistance and AI-integrated features. While Apple was an early pioneer with its Siri voice assistant, competitors have quickly improved their technologies, prompting Apple to focus on on-device processing and privacy in its advancements.
Giannandrea, who played a vital role in shaping Apple’s current AI infrastructure, will continue to guide the transition, serving as an advisor until his retirement in 2026. CEO Tim Cook expressed gratitude for Giannandrea’s contributions and emphasized the importance of AI in Apple’s long-term strategy, welcoming Subramanya and his extensive expertise to the leadership team.
This leadership transition signals a renewed commitment by Apple to elevate its AI initiatives, potentially enabling the company to regain its innovative edge in the competitive tech landscape.