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Former Siri executive Robby Walker to exit in October.
Robby Walker, one of Apple’s most senior artificial intelligence leaders and the head of the company’s Answers, Information, and Knowledge team, is set to depart the iPhone maker in October. Walker — who previously led Siri development earlier this year — has been reassigned to work on Apple’s confidential AI-powered web search initiative, often referred to internally as the Answers project.
Who is Robby Walker and why his exit matters
Walker has been a high-profile figure inside Apple’s AI organization. Until earlier this year he led Siri engineering efforts; those responsibilities have since been moved under Craig Federighi, Apple’s senior vice president of engineering. The leadership shuffle followed Apple’s public announcement that a “new and improved Siri” would be delayed indefinitely — a delay later linked by media reports to internal challenges that involved Walker’s team.
Product features and the Answers project
The Answers effort aims to build an AI-first web search and conversational information system to compete with services like Perplexity and ChatGPT. According to reporting, Answers is intended to combine generative AI responses with curated, source-backed information and deep integration with Apple’s ecosystem, including iOS, Spotlight, and Safari. Planned features include multimodal results, context-aware follow-ups, and tighter privacy controls — aligning with Apple’s market positioning around user data protection.
Comparisons: Answers vs. Perplexity and ChatGPT
- Perplexity focuses on concise sourced answers and web-grounded responses.
- ChatGPT emphasizes wide-ranging conversational capabilities, extensibility, and API access.
- Apple’s Answers intends to blend conversational AI with on-device privacy, tight OS integration, and curated sources — potentially limiting openness but strengthening ecosystem value.
Advantages, use cases and market relevance
If Apple delivers Answers as envisioned, it could offer distinct advantages: native integration with iPhone and Mac workflows, privacy-forward defaults, and reliable, source-cited answers for consumers and professionals. Use cases range from quick factual lookups inside Safari to sophisticated research workflows across Apple devices. For enterprise and creative professionals, the integration with system-level features (like Notes, Mail, and Spotlight) could be a differentiator versus stand-alone AI search tools.
Risks and the talent drain
Walker’s exit comes amid a broader wave of senior AI departures from Apple, many moving to Meta — which has actively recruited top AI talent with lucrative packages. High-profile exits such as Ruoming Pang, who reportedly left for a sizable Meta offer, and former director Frank Chu, highlight a competitive hiring environment. Continued staff attrition could slow development timelines and complicate Apple’s ability to scale large AI models and services.
What’s next and timeline
Sources indicate the Answers project is still in development with a potential public launch in 2026. Walker is expected to leave in October, though his next destination remains undisclosed. Apple has centralized Siri oversight under Federighi while continuing to invest in generative AI efforts — a sign the company is reorganizing leadership to keep product roadmaps on track despite recruitment pressures.
For industry observers and Apple users alike, Walker’s departure underscores two concurrent trends: the urgency for major tech firms to ship competitive generative AI features, and the fierce market for AI talent that can accelerate those products.
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