Apple is making significant changes to its Artificial Intelligence (AI) team in an effort to revamp its struggling Siri platform and develop a competitive AI product. John Giannandrea, senior vice president of Machine Learning and AI Strategy, will no longer be in charge of Siri and AI efforts.
The move comes after months of criticism and jokes about the company’s AI initiative, which has been described as a “boondoggle.” Apple CEO Tim Cook is reportedly seeking answers on why the company hasn’t yet developed a competitive AI product. As part of the shake-up, Mike Rockwell, former head of Vision Pro development, will take over as overseer of Siri and AI.
Rockwell’s appointment suggests that Apple may be coming to realize the importance of AI beyond just marketing gimmicks. The new department head has a track record of criticizing Siri’s shortcomings and has expertise in both hardware and software. He will report directly to Craig Federighi, senior vice president of software engineering.
The company’s AI efforts have been plagued by delays and a lack of polish, with critics labeling the current offerings as “table stakes” for an AI. Apple is now betting on Rockwell’s technical prowess to help revive Siri and integrate it into more of its ecosystem. However, experts warn that the company should focus on producing polished products rather than rushing them out due to hype.
The changes aim to get Apple’s AI department back on track, but critics remain skeptical about the company’s ability to deliver a competitive AI product by 2025.
Source: https://gizmodo.com/apples-ai-problem-escalates-with-major-executive-shakeup-2000578801