Cook Couldn’t Hold Back — Cuts Apple’s AI Chief
Apple AI Chief Steps Down Amid Struggles and Talent Exodus
Apple has officially announced that its AI chief, John Giannandrea, will be stepping down — ending a seven-year tenure during which he reported directly to CEO Tim Cook.
Reaction has been swift: many observers see this as the close of a turbulent chapter for Apple AI. In Giannandrea’s place, Apple has appointed Amar Subramanya, recently poached from Microsoft, as Vice President of AI.
Morale in Apple’s AI division is already strained. In a parallel development, Yilun Chen, Apple’s robotics lead and Tsinghua University alumnus, left the company to join Tesla.
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John Giannandrea’s Departure
Apple confirmed that John Giannandrea — also known informally as “Old John” — will step down as Senior Vice President of Machine Learning and AI Strategy and fully exit the company in spring, following a transition period.
Background:
- Formerly Google’s Head of AI and Search
- Joined Apple in 2018 at age 60 to overhaul Siri and lead broader AI efforts, including robotics
Performance Issues:
- Apple’s AI division lagged behind competitors by nearly two years
- Delayed launch of Apple Intelligence, failing to meet expectations
- In March, Apple postponed the release of a new Siri, admitting slower-than-expected progress
- Bloomberg later reported Tim Cook had “lost confidence” in Giannandrea’s leadership
Transition Plan:
- Giannandrea will serve as an advisor until retiring in 2026
- No direct successor; responsibilities split among:
- Software Chief
- Chief Operating Officer
- Head of Services
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Microsoft Veteran Joins Apple
Apple has hired Amar Subramanya, a seasoned AI researcher, as Vice President of AI reporting to Craig Federighi, Apple’s Software Chief.
Career Highlights:
- 16 years at Google
- Former VP of Enterprise AI at Microsoft (joined in July 2024)
Role at Apple:
- Lead AI model development
- Drive machine learning research
- Oversee AI safety — areas recently under Giannandrea’s remit
Tim Cook’s Statement:
> “AI has always been at the strategic core of Apple, and we’re excited to welcome Amar to Craig’s leadership team, bringing his outstanding AI expertise to Apple.”
This appointment signals Cook’s dissatisfaction with current AI progress and a readiness to shift strategy.
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Rising Talent Losses in Apple AI
Apple’s core AI model team has experienced notable departures:
Recent Exits:
- ~12 team members, including lead Peng Ruoming (joined Meta in July)
- Apple now sourcing AI tech externally from Google and Alibaba’s Qianwen
Impact:
- Loss of key personnel threatens the pace of Apple Intelligence development
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Robotics Lead Yilun Chen Moves to Tesla
The same day Giannandrea’s departure was revealed, Yilun Chen—Apple’s robotics and embodied intelligence technical lead—announced his exit.
Bio:
- Tsinghua University, Department of Automation (BSc, 2016)
- Robotics master’s degree from CMU
- Background in autonomous driving and robotics
Apple Tenure:
- Joined in January 2022
- Advanced from ML Engineer to Robotics Technical Lead
- Contributed to multiple undisclosed robotics projects
Tesla Move:
- Joined Tesla in November 2024
- Inspired by Tesla Optimus, he described feeling “world-changing energy” during his first week
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Another Robotics Departure: Jian Zhang
Earlier in September 2024, Jian Zhang, Chief AI Robotics Researcher at Apple, joined Meta Robotics Studio.
Background:
- Led the AI/ML robotics research team at Apple
- Developed Apple’s robotics technology stack: perception, movement, and emotional expression
- Education:
- Mechanical & Electrical Engineering — Zhejiang University
- Exchange student — University of Washington (ECE Dept.)
- Ph.D. — Purdue University
After Zhang’s departure, John Peebles and Nan Du joined OpenAI, while Zhao Meng went to Anthropic.
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Apple’s Larger Leadership Shake-Up
Industry chatter suggests Apple is preparing its largest leadership reshuffle in a decade:
- Rumor: Tim Cook may step down as CEO as early as next year
- Top candidate: John Ternus, Senior VP of Hardware Engineering
Cook’s Record:
- Took over from Steve Jobs in 2011
- Under Cook, Apple’s market cap surpassed $3 trillion in January 2022
AI Concerns:
- Bloomberg: Apple admits being two years behind top AI leaders
- Apple Intelligence launch failed to generate hype
- Growing calls for a CEO more deeply attuned to technology and product innovation
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Broader Context: AI Strategy Crossroads
Apple’s shake-up reflects a wider challenge: big tech firms struggle to match the rapid development pace of startups and rivals. Talent mobility is high, with engineers moving to faster-moving companies like Tesla, Meta, and Microsoft.
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References:
- https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-12-01/apple-artificial-intelligence-head-to-leave-after-ai-struggles?srnd=phx-technology
- https://www.teslarati.com/tesla-scores-major-hire-apple-scientist-moves-optimus-team/
- https://www.linkedin.com/in/yilunc2016/
- https://www.apple.com/newsroom/2025/12/john-giannandrea-to-retire-from-apple/
