Apple Appoints Kim Vorrath to Lead AI, Improve Siri

Apple has appointed Kim Vorrath, a 36-year veteran of the company, to lead improvements in its AI and Siri offerings as part of a strategic shift to bolster its capabilities in a competitive landscape dominated by rivals like OpenAI and Google. Vorrath, previously involved in the development of the original iPhone software and more recently the Vision Pro headset, will report to AI chief John Giannandrea. This restructuring comes in light of Siri's recent performance issues, including inaccuracies in summarizing news and a slow rollout of AI features, prompting Apple to temporarily suspend some functionalities in iOS 18.3. Despite integrating OpenAI's ChatGPT into its systems, Apple still faces criticism for its AI capabilities, particularly in comparison to advanced chatbots from competitors. The company is reportedly planning a more robust version of Siri for future updates, aiming to enhance its AI offerings significantly. This move indicates Apple's commitment to prioritizing AI development within its organizational focus.