Setback for Apple? Key AI head could leave amid delays to Siri upgrade

Apple is reportedly on the verge of losing one of its top artificial intelligence executives, Robby Walker, who is set to depart next month. According to a Bloomberg report, Walker, who has been with the company since 2013, currently holds the position of senior director for Apple’s Answers, Information, and Knowledge team, a role he assumed just this past April. Previously, Walker was in charge of the Siri voice assistant until its management was reassigned to Craig Federighi, Apple's software chief, earlier this year. His exit comes at a time when Apple is under increasing scrutiny for its cautious strategy in AI development. While competitors have surged ahead with innovative models, Apple’s AI initiatives, including its integration of ChatGPT, have progressed slowly, with significant updates to Siri now not expected until 2026. This news follows a trend of high-profile departures from Apple’s AI team, with several experts migrating to Meta Platforms. Notable exits include Ruoming Pang, who led AI modeling efforts, along with researchers Mark Lee and Tom Gunter, who have joined Meta’s Superintelligence Labs. Reports also indicated that Apple CEO Tim Cook shifted oversight of Siri to Mike Rockwell, vice president of the Vision Products Group, amid concerns regarding the capabilities of AI chief John Giannandrea. During the recent annual product launch, Apple introduced new iPhone models, including the slimmer iPhone Air, but provided little insight into how it plans to compete with rivals like Google, which has been showcasing its Gemini AI technology. In a separate development, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently approved a new feature for Apple smartwatches aimed at detecting hypertension. This blood pressure monitoring capability, announced at Apple’s September 9 event alongside the new iPhone lineup, will be available on the Apple Watch Series 9, Series 10, Series 11, and the Ultra 2 and Ultra 3 models by the end of September. Apple aims to roll out this feature across approximately 150 countries and regions, including the United States and the European Union.