Apple Execs and AI Engineers Defect to Rivals, Challenging iPhone Dominance [Report]

Apple is working through a stretch of leadership turnover at the same time rivals are racing to challenge the iPhone's place in the coming AI wave. While Tim Cook remains in charge, several long-time executives have stepped away, leaving the company to adjust its bench of senior leaders.

This week brought another cluster of exits. On Thursday, Apple confirmed that General Counsel Kate Adams and environmental chief Lisa Jackson will retire next year. The news followed the departure of design executive Alan Dye, who left for Meta to help build a new creative group. Earlier in the week, the company said that AI chief John Giannandrea is stepping down. Longtime Chief Operating Officer Jeff Williams retired in November as well, closing a long career that stretched across the entire Tim Cook era.

Lower in the organization, Apple is also losing experienced engineers and designers. Many have joined OpenAI or Meta in recent months, taking knowledge in areas such as audio, robotics, watch hardware and other core technologies. These departures are helping fuel competing hardware efforts. Mark Zuckerberg is pushing Meta toward a future built around AI and smart glasses, while Sam Altman's OpenAI continues work on an AI-focused device designed with Jony Ive.


The Wall Street Journal notes that Apple's position remains strong: the iPhone is still the center of most users' digital lives, and no competing product has emerged to pull people away. Even so, analysts argue that Apple needs to present a clearer vision for AI across its platforms in order to reassure customers and employees who are watching competitors move more aggressively.

Despite the high turnover, Tim Cook appears firmly in place. He turned 65 last month but continues to be deeply involved in operations, including navigating geopolitical challenges and steering Apple's stock back to record levels. Delivering a successful set of AI products is now viewed as the next major test of his tenure, and possibly the one that defines how he eventually leaves the company.

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