Apple (AAPL) has hit reset on its AI leadership. The tech giant on Monday appointed Amar Subramanya as its new Vice President of AI, replacing John Giannandrea. The transition marks a pivotal moment as Apple strengthens its push into advanced AI amid intense competition from rivals.
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Apple’s Giannandrea, who has been in charge of the company’s AI work since 2018, is stepping back from his role. He currently serves as senior vice president and reports directly to Tim Cook. Giannandrea will remain with Apple as an advisor until his retirement next spring.
Who Is Amar Subramanya?
Subramanya is a seasoned researcher and AI specialist with roots at Microsoft (MSFT) and Google (GOOGL). He has spent 16 years at Google, leading key engineering work for the Gemini Assistant. Most recently, he worked as Corporate Vice President of AI at Microsoft, focusing on AI-driven products and infrastructure.
At Apple, Subramanya will lead key AI teams, including work on the Apple Foundation Models and ML research. He will report to software chief Craig Federighi and will also work closely with the company’s software leadership.
Will Apple’s Leadership Shake-Up Reignite Growth?
This leadership change comes at a critical moment for Apple. The company has fallen behind competitors in the AI race, particularly in generative AI and with its voice assistant, Siri, highlighting the need to catch up with rivals.
Apple had launched its main AI platform, Apple Intelligence, in June 2024, but product updates have lagged behind competitors like Google. One of the most anticipated changes, a major AI-powered redesign of Siri, has been teased for over a year but has faced multiple delays. Meanwhile, Apple rolled out small improvements, such as real-time language translation in the latest AirPods and an AI-generated voice for its fitness app. Larger updates, however, are still pending.
Apple’s AI leadership change could provide the company with a much-needed boost in innovation. With Subramanya at the helm, Apple may accelerate updates to its AI products, including Siri and Apple Intelligence. While success isn’t guaranteed, the move signals a renewed focus on generative AI.
Is AAPL Stock a Buy?
On TipRanks, AAPL stock has a consensus Moderate Buy rating among 35 Wall Street analysts. That rating is based on 21 Buys, 12 Holds, and two Sells assigned in the last three months. The average AAPL price target of $289.17 implies a 2.14% upside from current levels.
