Mike Rockwell, the executive leading Siri AI development at Apple, is reportedly considering his departure from the company by 2027. Rockwell previously oversaw the Vision Pro project before transitioning to lead the Siri AI team, which released a revamped version of the voice assistant in June 2026.
Should Rockwell step down, his responsibilities may be split between two executives: Amar Subramanya and Sebastien Marineau. Subramanya, who joined Apple in December 2025 after roles at Google and Microsoft, currently manages foundational models and machine learning research. Marineau is a veteran engineering manager within Apple.
This potential exit follows a series of management shifts within Apple's AI division. In December 2025, the company announced that former AI chief John Giannandrea would retire in the spring of 2026. These changes occur as Apple attempts to integrate AI research more closely with its software, cloud services, and infrastructure departments.
Apple has faced ongoing talent attrition, with key researchers and managers departing for competitors like Meta. In August 2026, the company reportedly cut over 200 positions across its Siri and Vision Pro divisions. Despite these challenges, the company continues to refine its AI strategy, including the integration of Google Gemini models into the updated Siri.
