Bengaluru: Apple has appointed Amar Subramanya, a Bengaluru-born artificial intelligence researcher and engineer with an extensive background at Google and Microsoft, as its new vice-president of artificial intelligence (AI). The move signals the tech giant’s renewed urgency to accelerate its AI roadmap amid intensifying global competition.

Leadership shift marks Apple’s next phase in AI

Subramanya will report directly to Craig Federighi, Apple’s senior vice-president of software engineering, and will now oversee Apple’s AI operations, ranging from foundation models and machine learning research to AI safety and evaluation.

His appointment comes at a pivotal moment, as John Giannandrea — Apple’s senior vice-president for machine learning and AI strategy — prepares to step down. Giannandrea will transition into an advisory role before retiring in spring 2026. Parts of his organisation will shift under Sabih Khan and Eddy Cue to align more closely with Apple’s long-term product and services strategy.

Apple described the transition as a strategic step aimed at sharpening its focus. “This moment marks an exciting new chapter as Apple strengthens its commitment to shaping the future of AI for users everywhere,” the company said in a statement.

Tim Cook welcomes Subramanya as Apple ramps up AI investment

Tim Cook emphasised that AI continues to be central to Apple’s future. “We are pleased to welcome Amar to Craig’s leadership team and to bring his extraordinary AI expertise to Apple,” he noted. Cook added that Federighi is leading efforts to roll out a more personalised Siri experience next year, part of Apple’s broader push to embed generative AI capabilities deep into its ecosystem.

The timing holds significance. Apple has faced pressure as rivals like Google, Microsoft and OpenAI surge ahead with advanced foundation models, AI assistants and developer tools. Industry analysts say the company’s latest leadership changes reflect a deliberate shift from incremental AI features to large-scale model development.

A strong AI pedigree spanning Google, DeepMind and Microsoft

Subramanya brings nearly two decades of top-tier AI experience. His most recent position was corporate vice-president of AI at Microsoft, where he contributed to enterprise and consumer AI integrations.

Before that, he spent 16 years at Google, rising to vice-president of engineering. At Google, he led the development of the Gemini Assistant, one of the company’s flagship generative AI products, and held a senior post at DeepMind, contributing to advanced AI research.

Apple highlighted that Subramanya’s combination of research expertise and product deployment experience makes him ideally suited to lead the company’s next phase of AI innovation.

Strong academic foundation and early career

Hailing from Bengaluru, Subramanya completed his engineering degree in electrical, electronics and communications from Bengaluru University. He later earned a PhD from the University of Washington, focusing on research that set the foundation for his later work in machine learning.

His early professional journey included a brief stint at IBM and a research internship at Microsoft in 2005. Google recruited him in 2009, where he built his career over a decade and a half, eventually managing engineering for the Gemini project.

A move that underscores the global AI talent war

Subramanya’s rapid shift from Microsoft to Apple highlights the intensifying battle among tech giants for elite AI talent. Top researchers in the field are now commanding compensation packages reportedly exceeding USD 10 million annually, driven by the need to secure leadership in generative AI.

Industry observers note that Apple’s revamped leadership structure — along with Subramanya’s appointment — reflects the company’s determination to regain ground with its upcoming AI models and features set to roll out across the iPhone, Mac and services ecosystem.

Conclusion

Amar Subramanya’s appointment marks a defining moment for Apple as it recalibrates its AI ambitions. With a strong research background, deep industry experience and strategic timing, Subramanya is poised to play a key role in shaping Apple’s next-generation AI products. As Apple prepares to introduce a more powerful Siri and expand machine learning capabilities, the global AI race only intensifies — and the eyes of the tech world will be on what Apple delivers next.