TLDR: Robby Walker, a long-serving Apple AI executive, is reportedly leaving the company next month. His departure follows years of struggles and delayed improvements with the Siri voice assistant, which he previously led, and comes as Apple faces increasing scrutiny over its cautious artificial intelligence development strategy and a string of other AI talent exits.
Apple is set to lose a significant figure in its artificial intelligence leadership, with Robby Walker, a senior executive who has been central to the company’s AI and search initiatives for over a decade, reportedly preparing to depart next month. This exit, confirmed by sources familiar with the matter and reported by Bloomberg, adds to a growing wave of talent departures from Apple’s AI division and intensifies focus on the tech giant’s progress in the competitive AI landscape.
Walker, who joined Apple in 2013, previously held the critical role of leading the Siri voice assistant team. However, oversight of Siri was transferred to software chief Craig Federighi earlier this year following persistent delays and acknowledged shortcomings in the assistant’s performance. In an internal meeting in March 2025, Walker himself reportedly admitted that Siri’s setbacks were ’embarrassing,’ even while defending the team’s efforts.
After his tenure leading Siri, Walker transitioned to head Apple’s ‘Answers, Information and Knowledge’ group. This team has been tasked with developing a new AI-powered web search product, envisioned as a competitor to services like ChatGPT and Perplexity, with a planned debut in 2026. Despite this new focus, reports suggest Walker’s influence within the company had diminished, with his number of deputies reportedly reduced after his move from the Siri team.
Walker’s departure comes at a critical juncture for Apple’s AI ambitions. The company has faced considerable pressure for its perceived slow and cautious approach to artificial intelligence development compared to rivals such as Google, Microsoft, and Meta. While Apple unveiled its ‘Apple Intelligence’ suite this year, key features, including deeper integration with external tools like ChatGPT, have seen delays. A major upgrade to Siri, initially anticipated in 2024, has also been postponed until 2026.
The executive’s exit is not an isolated incident. Apple’s AI division has experienced a ‘brain drain’ in recent months, with several specialists moving to Meta Platforms. Notable departures include Ruoming Pang, who led Apple’s AI models team, along with researchers Mark Lee and Tom Gunter, and senior search executive Frank Chu. These movements raise questions about Apple’s ability to retain top AI talent and execute its long-term AI strategy.
As Apple navigates these challenges, the pressure mounts on remaining AI leaders, including Craig Federighi, Mike Rockwell, and AI chief John Giannandrea, to deliver tangible progress on both Siri and the broader Apple Intelligence platform. The company is reportedly weighing options, including a greater reliance on Google’s Gemini model to power parts of its system, even as it continues to develop its own in-house models. Apple already utilizes OpenAI’s ChatGPT for general world knowledge within its Apple Intelligence features.
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Walker is expected to officially leave Apple in October, with his next professional move yet to be announced. His departure underscores the intense competition and rapid evolution within the artificial intelligence sector, and the significant challenges Apple faces in asserting its leadership in this transformative technology.
