Apple is entering a new era of artificial intelligence, and the man holding the steering wheel is none other than software chief Craig Federighi. After years of internal debate and shifting timelines, Apple is finally accelerating its AI roadmap. This shift includes a partnership with Google and a leadership change that places Apple’s AI future directly under Federighi’s supervision.
The transition began last fall when Federighi expressed his desire for the company to move faster in the AI space. While he praised the collaboration between software and AI teams, he noted that the company hadn’t been moving with the “wind at its back” as much as he liked. This critique signaled a major cultural shift, leading to Federighi taking full control of the AI organization this past December, as reported by The Information.
Federighi’s takeover followed his earlier move to assume responsibility for Siri, which was previously managed under the broader AI group. By consolidating these teams, Apple aims to eliminate the friction that has historically slowed down product releases. Federighi led the push to integrate Google’s Gemini AI model into Apple’s ecosystem. This partnership aims to power future AI upgrades, specifically focusing on making Siri more conversational and capable. Many insiders believe Federighi chose external models because they were simply more “ready for prime time” than Apple’s internal prototypes.
While using a rival’s model might seem like a retreat, it allows Apple to deliver a revamped Siri later this year. The company previously postponed major Siri updates in 2025 due to technical hurdles with internal foundation models. By leaning on Gemini, Apple can bridge the gap while continuing to refine its own on-device technology.
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