Who Is Amar Subramanya? Apple’s New AI Chief And Former Microsoft And Google Executive

Apple announced a major leadership shift in its AI organisation, appointing Amar Subramanya as its new Vice President of AI. Subramanya, a graduate from Bengaluru University, was previously a senior executive at both Microsoft and Google and takes over from long-serving AI chief John Giannandrea. The move represents the most pivotal leadership transition for AI at Apple since the launch of Apple Intelligence in 2024.

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Who Is Amar Subramanya?

Amar Subramanya is a highly respected AI researcher and engineering leader whose career spans many of the biggest names in global technology. Prior to Apple, he was Corporate Vice President of AI at Microsoft, where he contributed to enterprise and consumer systems, including the foundation models powering Microsoft Copilot.

Prior to Microsoft, Subramanya spent 16 years at Google, where he became Head of Engineering for Gemini, Google's flagship AI assistant. He also collaborated closely with DeepMind on some of the most advanced AI research efforts in the industry.

Academic Roots in Bengaluru

It all started in Bengaluru for Subramanya, who pursued his Bachelor of Engineering in Electrical, Electronics, and Communication Engineering at Bangalore University. He later earned a PhD in Computer Science from the University of Washington, specialising in machine learning, large-scale systems, and natural language technologies.

From Microsoft to Apple in a Rapid Transition

Subramanya announced his arrival at Microsoft just two months ago, calling the company’s culture “refreshingly low ego yet bursting with ambition.” In his LinkedIn post, he praised conversations with Mustafa Suleyman and Satya Nadella, describing their AI vision as “nothing short of inspiring.”

Despite his short tenure, Subramanya has now moved to Apple, where he will report directly to Craig Federighi, Senior Vice President of Software Engineering.

A High-Stakes Moment For Apple

This leadership move comes at a crucial time. Apple has faced criticism for trailing behind rivals such as Google, Microsoft, and Samsung in rolling out next-generation AI features. Bringing in a leader with deep experience in generative AI and large-scale machine learning signals Apple’s intent to accelerate the growth and capability of Apple Intelligence, which is expected to integrate deeply across iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Apple services.

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What Subramanya Will Lead At Apple

Apple has confirmed that Subramanya will oversee teams responsible for AI research, foundation models, and AI safety. Duties previously managed by Giannandrea will now be distributed between Sabih Khan, Chief Operating Officer, and Eddy Cue, Head of Services. This marks a major structural shift in how Apple plans to shape and scale its AI strategy going forward.