The Economic Times·2026-01-31 05:04Core Insights - Apple's AI division is experiencing significant turbulence, with a notable exodus of talent, particularly from its AI ranks, as the company struggles to keep pace with competitors in the artificial intelligence sector [2][12] - The decision to outsource some technology to Google has caused dissatisfaction among staff, contributing to the ongoing talent drain [2][9] Departures and Talent Loss - Recent exits from Apple include Yinfei Yang, Haoxuan You, Bailin Wang, and Zirui Wang, with Yang starting a new company and You and Wang joining Meta [1][12] - Zirui Wang and Apple executive Stuart Bowers have joined Google DeepMind, which is assisting Apple in developing core AI models for new features, including an upgraded Siri [3][12] Organizational Changes - Apple's AI efforts underwent a major reorganization last year, with CEO Tim Cook relieving AI chief John Giannandrea and assigning responsibilities to software head Craig Federighi [6][12] - The Foundation Models (AFM) team, responsible for the underlying technology of Apple's AI platform, has faced scrutiny due to delays in new Siri features and a lackluster reception of current AI offerings [7][12] Product Development - Apple is preparing two new versions of Siri: a near-term update utilizing personal data for queries and a more ambitious chatbot-style overhaul set for later this year, both powered by models developed by Google's team [9][12] - The company continues to rely on its own models for on-device Apple Intelligence features, although it is unlikely to depend on external partners indefinitely due to competitive pressures in the AI landscape [11][12] Financial Performance - Despite reporting over $85 billion in iPhone sales, Apple's AI challenges have contributed to a stock slump this year, complicating efforts for a turnaround [5][12]