Amar Subramanya Appointed as Apple’s New Vice President of AI

Apple has appointed Amar Subramanya as its new Vice President of Artificial Intelligence (AI), marking one of its most notable leadership transitions in recent years. He replaces veteran executive John Giannandrea, who will continue as an adviser until his planned retirement next spring. The move comes at a critical moment for Apple as it strengthens its position in the rapidly evolving AI landscape.

Apple’s Strategic AI Focus

“AI has long been central to Apple’s strategy,” CEO Tim Cook said, welcoming Subramanya to the leadership team headed by Craig Federighi, Apple’s software chief. The company emphasized that his deep expertise in machine learning (ML) and AI research, combined with his ability to translate research into products, will help accelerate the development of upcoming Apple Intelligence systems and features.

Who is Amar Subramanya?

Amar Subramanya is a Bengaluru-born technologist with a strong academic and research background in electrical and AI engineering.

Education and Early Career

• Graduated in Electrical, Electronics and Communications Engineering from Bangalore University (2001).
• Began his career at IBM as a software engineer.
• Pursued a PhD at the University of Washington (2005), interning at Microsoft and later contributing as a visiting researcher.

16 Years at Google: Key Contributions

Following his doctorate, Subramanya joined Google’s Mountain View headquarters:

• Started as a staff research scientist.
• Rose to principal engineer, before becoming Vice President of Engineering in 2019.
• Led engineering for Google’s Gemini Assistant, one of the company’s high-profile AI initiatives.

After brief tenure as Corporate Vice President of AI at Microsoft in mid-2025, he transitioned to Apple.

Subramanya’s Role at Apple

At Apple, he joins as Corporate Vice President (CVP), reporting to Craig Federighi. His remit includes oversight of:

• Foundation AI models
• Machine learning research
• Search and knowledge intelligence
• AI infrastructure development

His appointment reflects Apple’s attempt to revitalize its AI pipeline, align research with commercial goals, and deliver more competitive features across its product ecosystem.

The Context: Apple’s AI Challenges

Apple has been criticized for lagging behind rivals in generative AI adoption. Companies like Samsung have been quicker to integrate AI features into mobile devices. Meanwhile:

• Reports earlier in 2025 suggested Tim Cook was dissatisfied with delays in AI development under Giannandrea.
• Apple confirmed that major AI upgrades to Siri would be delayed until 2026, signalling internal roadblocks in execution.

Subramanya’s arrival is widely interpreted as a corrective step to accelerate AI delivery timelines and restore leadership confidence.

Outlook

With Amar Subramanya at the helm of AI operations, Apple hopes to:

• Strengthen its AI innovation strategy
• Speed up next-generation Siri integration
• Bridge competitive gaps in mobile AI and cloud intelligence
• Enhance its in-device generative AI capabilities

The transition underscores Apple’s recognition that AI leadership is central to its future relevance in the tech ecosystem, especially as global competition intensifies.