Apple Loses Key AI Leader as Concerns mount Over AI Strategy
apple is losing Robby Walker, a senior director in its artificial intelligence division, Bloomberg News reported Friday. This departure comes as Apple faces increasing scrutiny over its comparatively slow entry into the AI race and potential to miss out on meaningful industry growth.
Walker, who leads the ”Answer, Data and Knowledge” team, has been with Apple since 2013 and was recently responsible for Siri before leadership of the voice assistant shifted to Craig Federighi earlier this year. He plans to leave the company next month.
This exit is part of a growing trend of AI talent leaving Apple for competitors like Meta Platforms. In July, Bloomberg reported that Ruoming Pang, Apple’s leading manager for AI models, also joined Meta, along with two researchers who previously worked closely with him.
The leadership changes surrounding Siri reflect internal concerns. According to a March Bloomberg report, CEO Tim Cook lost confidence in AI boss John giannandrea’s ability to deliver on product progress, leading to Mike Rockwell, VP of the Vision Products Group, taking over duty for the language assistant.
Apple recently unveiled its new iPhone series, maintaining stable pricing despite tariffs. However, the presentation lacked substantial details on how the company intends to compete with rivals like Google, who showcased the capabilities of its Gemini AI model in its latest smartphones. This has reinforced the perception that Apple is lagging behind in the rapidly evolving AI landscape.
Apple did not respond to a request for comment from Reuters.
