Apple Inc. Removes its secret robotics unit at the command of its artificial intelligence commander, which is the last shaken in response to AI fighting.
Apple plans to reposition the robotics team from the John Giannandrea AI organization's hardware division this month later, people aware of the move said. It puts it under the Vice -President John Tornus, a senior president who supervises this hardware construction, that people who asked not to identify because the change is not public.
Waiting exchange marks another major project removed from Giannandreas in the last month: CompanyplunderedLongev Siri's voice assistant from the hand in March. The changes are part of the broader efforts to catch artificial intelligence – in the field where Apple has fallen behind technical facilities like Alphabet Inc. Google And Openai.
Giannandrea, a former Google driver who works as a vice -president of machine learning and artificial intelligence strategy, continues most of Apple AI's efforts. And the change gives his group more time to focus on artificial intelligence technology, people said.
A spokesman for Apple Cupertino in California refused to comment.
Siri's engineering unit was taken over by Mike Rockwell, who used to be the hardware and software development of the Vision Pro headset. As part of this management exchange, Rockwell maintained the operating system. He is replacement of a large part of the management Siri with the best deputy deputy deputy for the Vision Pro team, Bloomberg News said this week.
The robotics team is more of abehind the scenesAt Apple. It works for the use of AI technologies for the use of equipment power supplies – a potentially new product category base. GroupleadsVeterans leader Kevin Lynch, who has driven the initiative of Apple Watch software and the now lost self -driving car.
As part of a robotics project, Apple plans to issue atable robotIt uses an artificial limb to move around the iPad screen. In the future, the group has discussed the construction of mobile machinery, including a traveling robot similarly Amazon Astro. The products are designed for television presence devices, which means that they would allow users to have a video conference with others.
Robots are rapidly developing as one of the most exciting field of Silicon Valley Tesla Inc., Metaplatforms Inc. And other giants invest billions of dollars in the category. After losing the land in the Generative AI,Canceling of self -driving car plansAnd when you arrive late for a smart home market, Apple may be poorly left to leave another larger AI-controlled category.
Apple's top executives believe in Ternus's ability to follow the project. He is one of the most reliable lieutenants of Tim Cook and is already responsible for the hardware construction of the iPhone, iPad, Mac, Vision Pro and most other products. Many employees believe that ternus could be Next CEO of Apple – a future shift that can take place at a time when robots become more common.
Ternus already has jurisdiction over a hardware construction team led by Matt Costello and Brian Lynch, who have worked on robotics and smart home technologies. The latter shake also suggests that Apple increases work with effort and wants both groups to be closer to one boss.
The relocation of the Lynch unit is also remarkable as it provides Ternus control over the main operating system and algorithm teams, groups that are usually not managed by the Hardware Department. TinnitusreviewVision Pro software unit – until Rockwell moved with this team a software engineering organization. It coincided with Siri's management shift last month.
For Giannandrea, the switch marks another one of the kind of humiliation Large delays in Siri's main functions And a lack of answer to the platform of the appellice. Now he has lost hundreds of engineers this year – with Trienus, Rockwell and software manager Craig Federigh – after Cook lost his faith to carry out new product development.
The brokers release the Giannandrea Group to focus on developing future Apple products – including Apple Intelligence and Siri version updates.
AI and machine learning group that some employees mockedAI/Mless“Several months after many of the multiplication of Siri, the people of Apple have also complained about the miserable attitude that has slowed engineering and the development of new initiatives.Meeting with all hands last monthFormer Apple's former Siri leader Giannandrea – Robby Walker – was called “ugly” and “embarrassed”.
Giannandrea has not given any references to his team that he is going to leave soon, but the continued change of commitments has raised the prospect that the company can prepare for a world that has no effort. Eight years after the merchandise of Apple AI teams into one group of Giannandrea, AI and ML team breakdown is more likely, people said.
This story was originally reflected Fortune.com
