Senior AI and search exec Robby Walker latest to leave Apple

Apple’s iPhone 17 Pro in Deep Blue
Apple’s Robby Walker, a top AI executive at the iPhone maker, is departing the company, according to Bloomberg News reporter Mark Gurman, who cited sources familiar with the matter.
Walker, one of the few direct reports to AI head John Giannandrea, previously oversaw Siri until earlier this year, when responsibility for the voice assistant transferred to software chief Craig Federighi. The shift followed the public delay of promised Siri updates, representing a notable setback.
Mark Gurman for Bloomberg News:
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After leaving the Siri role, Walker became one of the top Apple executives working on a new AI-powered web search system to compete with Perplexity and ChatGPT. It’s scheduled to debut next year.
He’s currently the senior director in charge of the company’s Answers, Information and Knowledge team. Walker is planning to leave Apple next month, said the people, who asked not to be identified because the move hasn’t been announced.
In an internal meeting in March, Walker pushed back against criticism about Siri’s feature delays, while acknowledging they were embarrassing.

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MacDailyNews Take: The exodus continues.
Half a decade after Steve Jobs’ death, people are beginning to see the results of the lack of a charismatic, focused leader. You cannot go from Steve Jobs to someone who “doesn’t like people arguing” and not cause a profound culture change. – MacDailyNews, April 10, 2017
If he retired today, Tim Cook’s Apple would be known for coasting along on Steve Jobs’ innovations, rolling up tremendous profits that any halfway competent CEO would have accrued (or more), and devolving into being lazy, sloppy and routinely late. That’s a great legacy, Tim. — MacDailyNews, April 10, 2018
See also:
• Apple’s brain drain continues as lead AI robotics researcher leaves for Meta – September 2, 2025
• Brain drain: Apple loses fourth AI researcher to Meta Platforms – July 29, 2025
Blind, deaf, and dumb.

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