Apple Senior AI Executive Robby Walker Reported to Leave in October

Robby Walker, a senior AI executive at Apple who previously oversaw the development of Siri, is set to leave the company next month. After his responsibility for Siri was transferred to Craig Federighi earlier this year, Walker led Apple's Answers, Information, and Knowledge team and worked on a new AI-powered web search system slated for launch in 2026 to compete with services like ChatGPT and Perplexity. His departure comes amid criticism of Apple's cautious AI strategy and delays in major Siri upgrades, highlighting internal challenges and a talent drain in Apple's AI division. Several other top AI researchers have recently left Apple for Meta, attracted by lucrative compensation packages, intensifying concerns about Apple's ability to keep pace in AI innovation. Apple has not publicly commented on Walker's departure. This development marks another significant change in Apple's AI leadership during a critical growth phase for the company’s artificial intelligence efforts.