Apple’s artificial intelligence team is undergoing a significant change, with the current head, John Giannandrea, set to retire early next year. The company has announced that Amar Subramanya, a veteran engineer from Google and Microsoft, will take over the leadership of the AI effort. Giannandrea, who joined Apple in 2018, will serve as an advisor to the company during his remaining time.

The transition comes as Apple aims to demonstrate its commitment to advancing artificial intelligence, an area where the company has faced challenges in keeping pace with its competitors. Apple’s CEO, Tim Cook, expressed gratitude for Giannandrea’s contributions to the company’s AI work and welcomed Subramanya, citing his experience in integrating AI into features and products as crucial to Apple’s ongoing innovation.

Subramanya’s background includes 16 years at Google, where he led the engineering team for the Gemini digital assistant, and a stint as corporate vice president of AI at Microsoft. His expertise is expected to play a key role in driving Apple’s AI efforts, including the development of AI foundation models and machine learning.

The change in leadership comes at a time when the tech industry is witnessing a fierce race to lead in artificial intelligence, with companies like Google, Microsoft, and OpenAI releasing improved AI models and features. Apple, which delayed the release of an enhanced Siri digital assistant earlier this year, is now promising its launch for next year.

Cook has emphasized the importance of AI to Apple’s strategy, stating that it is “central to our strategy.” The company’s senior vice president of Software Engineering, Craig Federighi, will oversee Subramanya’s work, which will focus on bringing a more personalized Siri to users next year. Apple’s efforts to enhance its products and services with artificial intelligence are also driven by its custom chips and ongoing research and development.

As the tech giant navigates the rapidly evolving AI landscape, the appointment of Subramanya is seen as a significant step towards advancing its AI capabilities and staying competitive in the market. With Subramanya’s expertise and Apple’s commitment to innovation, the company is poised to make significant strides in the field of artificial intelligence.