Apple welcomes Indian-origin AI expert Amar Subramanya as VP of AI, reporting to Craig Federighi. Subramanya, with a
strong background from Google and Microsoft, will lead Apple Foundation Models, ML research, and AI Safety. This move
signifies a new chapter in Apple's AI strategy, focusing on integrating advanced research into user-centric products.
When Apple announced that John Giannandrea was stepping down as senior vice president for Machine Learning and AI
Strategy, the tech world sat up. Giannandrea, who has been shaping Apple’s AI for years, will now serve as an advisor
before retiring in spring 2026. But all eyes immediately turned to the other big news: Amar Subramanya, an Indian-origin
AI expert with a stellar track record at Google and Microsoft, has joined Apple as Vice President of AI, reporting to
Craig Federighi. Suddenly, Apple’s AI story was getting a new protagonist, someone who could bridge deep research with
the products we all use every day. Subramanya isn’t just another executive hire. He’s stepping into a pivotal role,
overseeing Apple Foundation Models, machine learning research, and AI Safety and Evaluation. In other words, he’s going
to be one of the people shaping the brains behind the next generation of Apple devices and services. Tim Cook captured
it perfectly: “AI has long been central to Apple’s strategy, and we are pleased to welcome Amar to Craig’s leadership
team and to bring his extraordinary AI expertise to Apple. ”
From Bangalore classrooms to global AI labs
The story starts in Bangalore. Long before Silicon Valley came calling, Amar was immersed in circuits, signals, and
communications theory at Bangalore University, where he completed his Bachelor of Engineering in Electrical,
Electronics, and Communications between 1997 and 2001. It was a time when India’s tech revolution was gathering pace,
and young engineers were dreaming big. Amar’s curiosity about how machines understand speech, images, and language would
eventually become the compass guiding his career.
After Bangalore, it was off to the University of Washington for a PhD in Computer Science. There, Amar dove into
semi-supervised learning, a method that trains AI even when there’s limited labeled data. He also experimented with
speech and audio-visual models, exploring early forms of multimodal AI—basically teaching machines to process and
understand multiple types of data at once. His work earned him the prestigious Microsoft Research Graduate Fellowship in
2007, and by the time he finished his PhD in 2009, he had already built a reputation as a researcher who could turn
complex theory into practical solutions.
Early career: IBM and Microsoft
Before the big names came calling, Amar got his hands dirty in the industry. He started at IBM as a software engineer
and later spent time at Microsoft Research, first as an intern and then as a visiting researcher. He explored speech,
audio-visual models, and foundational machine learning concepts—skills that would later help him design AI systems that
could actually scale and work for millions of users.
The Google era: Gemini and beyond
In 2009, Amar joined Google, and this is where his career really took flight. Over the next 16 years, he climbed the
ranks from Staff Research Scientist to Vice President of Engineering, heading the team behind Google’s Gemini Assistant.
Along the way, he worked on natural language processing, entity resolution, multimodal systems, and, most importantly,
translating research into products that people could actually use every day. His time at Google established him as
someone who could straddle the worlds of cutting-edge research and large-scale product deployment—a rare skill in AI
A brief chapter at Microsoft
In July 2025, Amar took on the role of Corporate Vice President of AI at Microsoft, focusing on foundation models and AI
integration in products like Microsoft Copilot. Even though he was there for less than six months, it reinforced his
reputation as a technologist capable of leading teams and shaping AI strategy at the highest levels.
And now, Apple. Subramanya steps in as Giannandrea steps back, taking the reins on some of the company’s most critical
AI projects. According to Apple’s official announcement, the remainder of Giannandrea’s organization will shift to Sabih
Khan and Eddy Cue, while Amar focuses on Apple Foundation Models, ML research, and AI Safety and Evaluation. The goal is
clear: continue building intelligent, trusted, and personal experiences for Apple users while pushing the boundaries of
For students and aspiring engineers, Amar Subramanya’s journey is a masterclass in the power of curiosity, hard work,
and strategic career choices. From classrooms in Bangalore to leading AI initiatives at Apple, he shows how strong
fundamentals, rigorous research, and years of persistent learning can lead to roles that shape global technology. With
Amar now at the helm, Apple’s AI story is entering an exciting new chapter—one where innovation, intelligence, and
human-centered design will take center stage.