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Siri AI has been released, and the man behind it is apparently considering his next move. Mike Rockwell is reportedly considering stepping down as Siri's leader in 2027, and may even leave Apple altogether. According to the report, two candidates are already in the running to replace him.
Mark Gurman reports in his Bloomberg newsletter „Power On“ that Rockwell is seriously considering his future. The possibility of him stepping down as head of Siri AI in 2027 is being discussed; it's also conceivable that he will leave the company altogether.
This isn't a new idea. Back in April, it was reported that Rockwell was considering stepping down or moving into an advisory role because he had reservations about reporting to software chief Craig Federighi. At the time, it was considered unlikely that he would leave before the Siri overhaul was completed.
Key Facts at a Glance
- Mike Rockwell is reportedly considering stepping down as head of Siri AI in 2027, and may even leave Apple altogether.
- According to the report, his duties would likely be divided between Amar Subramanya and Sebastien Marineau-Mes.
- Marineau-Mes reports to Craig Federighi and is considered internally to be his possible successor.
- According to the report, there is no indication that Federighi will leave in the short term.
Who could take over Rockwell's responsibilities
If Rockwell steps down as head of Siri, his responsibilities would likely be divided between two managers, according to Gurman. One of them is Amar Subramanya, who is responsible for AI models at Apple. He joined Apple from Microsoft at the end of 2025, having previously worked for Google for a long time, when Apple announced the departure of its former AI chief, John Giannandrea, who has since left the company.
The other is Sebastien Marineau-Mes, a manager in Federighi's software organization. He reports to Federighi, and according to the report, it is expected internally that he will eventually succeed him. However, there are reportedly no indications that Federighi will retire or leave Apple in the near future.
Rockwell's path to Siri
Rockwell spent years developing Vision Pro to market maturity. In March 2025, he took over Siri after Apple removed Giannandrea from the project; since then, he has reported to Federighi. His approach to the restructuring already hinted at whether Rockwell would bring about a turnaround for Siri.
The result is now available: Siri AI was unveiled at WWDC 2026 and released with iOS 27. An overview of what the assistant can do today can be found in the Siri AI article. According to the same report, Apple is already considering the next step: evolving Siri AI into an AI agent that can perform tasks independently.
Why now is the right time
I find the report credible, precisely because it follows on from April. The condition that argued against a swift departure at that time has essentially been met with the launch of Siri AI in September. Gurman is one of the most reliable sources on Apple's personnel matters; his information is based on people familiar with the events.
For users, a change in personnel at the top won't initially make any difference; the crucial question is whether work on Siri AI continues seamlessly. Subramanya and Marineau-Mes, two managers already working under Federighi in the same organization, would be ready to take over.
Do you believe Siri AI will continue to develop at the same pace without Rockwell at the helm, or does the transformation hinge on one person? Tell us in the comments what you expect from Apple's AI leadership.
