Apple Appoints Former Microsoft, Google AI Leader Amar Subramanya to Lead AI Charge

Apple has appointed Amar Subramanya, a seasoned artificial intelligence executive with extensive experience at both Microsoft and Google, as its new Vice President of AI, the company announced on Monday.

He replaces John Giannandrea, who has led Apple’s AI and machine learning strategy since 2018 and is set to retire in 2026 after serving briefly as an advisor.

Subramanya will report directly to Craig Federighi, Apple’s Senior Vice President of Software Engineering, and will oversee key pillars of the company’s AI roadmap, including Apple Foundation Models, machine learning research, and AI safety and evaluation.

Apple described the incoming VP as a “renowned AI researcher”. Before joining Apple, Subramanya served as Corporate Vice President of AI at Microsoft and spent 16 years at Google, where he led engineering for the Google Gemini Assistant and held various senior positions in AI research and development.

Subramanya’s arrival comes at a pivotal moment for Apple, which has faced mounting criticism for lagging behind rivals in rolling out advanced AI features. Competitors such as Google, Microsoft, and Samsung have accelerated their AI-integrated products, prompting intensified scrutiny of Apple’s AI strategy.

Industry observers say the hire signals Apple’s intention to significantly scale up its AI capabilities, particularly as it prepares the next phase of Apple Intelligence, its long-term AI initiative.

Apple noted that Subramanya brings deep expertise in both cutting-edge AI research and the practical integration of AI systems into consumer products, an area the company is racing to strengthen.

Giannandrea, a former Google search and AI chief, was recruited by Apple in 2018 to transform its machine learning and AI features, particularly Siri, which has long struggled against competitors. Under his leadership, Apple expanded its on-device intelligence and laid the groundwork for its current AI ecosystem.

CEO Tim Cook praised Giannandrea for his contributions, saying his leadership “advanced Apple’s AI work significantly.” Cook added that AI remains central to Apple’s future strategy and expressed confidence in Subramanya’s ability to guide the company through the next wave of innovation.

The leadership change follows a broader restructuring of Apple’s Siri and AI teams earlier this year. In August, Cook announced plans to dramatically increase investment in AI, signalling that Apple is gearing up for a more aggressive push into next-generation intelligence features across its devices.