Apple has promoted recent hire John Giannandrea to its executive team with a new role: senior vice president of Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence Strategy. Giannandrea joined Apple earlier this year after leaving his role of search and AI chief at Google.
Apple formally announced his promotion today:
Apple CEO Tim Cook added this:
Giannandrea is credited with pushing AI features through Google products including search, assistant, and Gmail prior to joining Apple in April. Giannandrea has reported directly to Tim Cook since being hired.
In July, Apple reorganized its Siri and Machine Learning teams under Giannandrea Chief of Machine Learning and AI Strategy at the time. The decision to once again boost Giannandrea shows Apple’s commitment to machine learning and artificial intelligence technology.
The move also communicates that the ex-Google hire is seemingly a good cultural fit at the company despite differences between Apple and Google’s approach to privacy — something Cook voiced to the company when Giannandrea was first hired:
Apple’s leadership page has already been updated to reflect the change: