Who is Amar Subramanya? Ex-Google and Microsoft AI researcher now leading Apple’s AI push
Described by Apple as a “renowned AI researcher,” Subramanya most recently served as corporate vice president of AI at Microsoft. Before that, he spent 16 years at Google, rising to Gemini’s director of engineering. In a press release, Apple said Subramanya will report to Craig Federighi and “lead critical areas including Apple Core Models, machine learning research, and AI Security and Evaluation.”
The leadership change comes after years of internal challenges for Apple’s AI push. Giannandrea, who joined Apple in 2018 after serving as Google’s vice president of search, was initially seen as a key hire that would help the company compete in the rapidly evolving artificial intelligence landscape. But Apple has struggled to keep up with the pace due to delayed distribution plans for the next-generation, more personalized version of Siri, the AI-centric assistant it previewed last year.
Giannandrea, who oversaw Siri’s development, has faced scrutiny over glitches. Earlier this year, Bloomberg reported that Apple CEO Tim Cook “lost confidence in AI chief John Giannandrea’s ability to execute on product development” and handed over Siri leadership responsibilities to other executives.
Who is Amar Subramanya?
Amar Subramanya is an established AI researcher and engineering leader whose career has spanned some of the world’s most influential technology companies. According to his LinkedIn profile, he held key roles at Microsoft and previously worked at Google’s DeepMind division, one of the industry’s foremost centers for cutting-edge AI research.
Subramanya holds a Bachelor of Engineering degree in Electrical, Electronics and Communication Engineering from Bangalore University (1997–2001). He then completed his doctorate at the University of Washington between 2005 and 2009.
Subramanya assumes the role of VP of AI at Apple and reports directly to Craig Federighi, SVP of Software Engineering.
