Apple Shakes Up Leadership: Siri Head Replaced Amid AI Development Challenges

In a surprising move, Apple has announced a significant leadership change in its AI division. John Giannandrea, the head of Siri and AI, will step down, making way for Mike Rockwell, the visionary behind the Vision Pro headset. This decision, effective March 20, 2025, comes as Apple faces mounting challenges in advancing its generative AI capabilities for Siri, leading to internal tensions and delays in feature rollouts.

The leadership shift was reportedly driven by Apple CEO Tim Cook, who had lost confidence in Giannandrea’s ability to steer the company’s AI efforts. Giannandrea, who has led Siri and AI development for several years, will be replaced by Rockwell, a seasoned executive known for his groundbreaking work on the Vision Pro. Rockwell’s appointment signals Apple’s intent to integrate its AI advancements more closely with its hardware innovations, particularly the Vision Pro, which has been a flagship product for the company.

Paule Meade, who previously worked under Rockwell on Vision Pro hardware engineering, will now take over as the head of the Vision Pro Group. This reshuffling underscores Apple’s commitment to maintaining momentum in both its AI and hardware divisions, even as it navigates the complexities of generative AI development.

The leadership change follows Apple’s announcement that it is delaying the rollout of generative AI upgrades for Siri. In a statement to Daring Fireball, Apple acknowledged that development is taking longer than expected, with new features now slated to launch in the coming year. This delay has reportedly caused frustration within the Siri team, with senior director Robby Walker describing the situation as challenging during a tense team meeting.

Apple’s struggles in AI development mirror broader industry challenges, as the tech world grapples with the rapid pace of innovation in generative AI. However, the stakes are particularly high for Apple, which has positioned Siri as a cornerstone of its ecosystem. The delay and leadership changes highlight the pressure Apple is under to deliver cutting-edge AI features that can compete with rivals like Google and OpenAI.

Rockwell’s appointment is seen as a strategic move to align Apple’s AI ambitions with its hardware expertise. His success with the Vision Pro suggests that Apple may be looking to leverage its hardware capabilities to create more seamless and immersive AI experiences. This could pave the way for new integrations between Siri and the Vision Pro, potentially redefining how users interact with AI in the Apple ecosystem.

Notable figures in this transition include Tim Cook, whose leadership decisions are shaping Apple’s future in AI; John Giannandrea, whose departure marks the end of an era for Siri; and Paule Meade, whose promotion reflects Apple’s confidence in its hardware engineering talent.

As Apple navigates these challenges, the tech world will be watching closely to see how the company balances innovation with execution. Will Rockwell’s leadership bring the breakthrough Apple needs, or will the delays and internal tensions continue to hinder progress? Only time will tell, but one thing is clear: Apple is betting big on the future of AI, and the stakes have never been higher.

This story, based on reports from Bloomberg, highlights the human side of tech innovation—where ambition, pressure, and leadership collide in the race to shape the future.