Former GOOGL Gemini Engineer Heads AAPL A.I. Amid Lagging Position

Core Insights - Apple is experiencing significant changes in its AI division with the retirement of John Deandria, the head of AI, and the hiring of Amarsa Morana as his successor, indicating a strategic shift in leadership and focus on AI development [2][3][4] Group 1: Leadership Changes - John Deandria, Apple's SVP of machine learning and AI strategy, is retiring and will transition to an advisory role until spring 2026 [2] - Amarsa Morana, previously a corporate VP of AI at Microsoft and head of engineering for Google's Gemini Assistant, has been appointed as the new VP of AI, bringing extensive experience in AI and machine learning [3][5] Group 2: Market Position and Perception - Apple is perceived as a laggard in the AI race, particularly compared to competitors like Samsung, which have been quicker to implement AI features in their devices [4][6] - Siri is criticized as a limited AI assistant compared to advanced alternatives like ChatGPT, and Apple has delayed the rollout of significant AI features until mid-2026 [7][8] Group 3: Strategic Approach - Apple's strategy has historically focused on quality, privacy, and user experience, which has fostered strong customer loyalty despite being late to adopt certain technologies [15][18] - Analysts suggest that Apple is not rushing its AI developments and is instead taking a measured approach, which may align with its long-term vision and market position [18][22]