苹果AI负责人权限再遭削减，“潜在接班人”接管机器人业务

Apple's AI chief has had his authority further reduced, with the "potential successor" taking over the robotics business.

【环球网财经综合报道】苹果公司（AAPL.US）内部架构调整持续发酵，人工智能领域的布局似乎陷入困境。据知情人士透露，苹果计划在本月晚些时候将其秘密机器人部门从John Giannandrea管理的人工智能部门中分离出来，转由硬件工程高级副总裁John Ternus负责。这一调整标志着苹果在人工智能领域的战略重心转移，同时也暗示了原AI负责人权限的进一步削弱。

[Global Network Finance Comprehensive Report] The internal restructuring of Apple Inc. (AAPL.US) continues to unfold, and its layout in the field of artificial intelligence (AI) seems to have run into trouble. According to people familiar with the matter, Apple plans to spin off its secretive robotics unit from the AI division managed by John Giannandrea later this month, placing it under the charge of John Ternus, Senior Vice President of Hardware Engineering. This restructuring marks a shift in Apple's strategic focus in the AI sector, and also indicates a further reduction in the authority of the company’s original AI chief.

在过去一个月内，苹果已对John Giannandrea的职权范围进行了第二次重大调整。此前，由于未能按时交付Apple Intelligence Siri功能，苹果已将Siri团队交由Vision Pro负责人Mike Rockwell接管。这些变动表明，苹果在追赶人工智能领域的竞争对手时，正面临内部管理与执行力的挑战。

Over the past month, Apple has made the second major adjustment to John Giannandrea’s scope of authority. Earlier, due to the failure to deliver the Apple Intelligence Siri features on schedule, Apple had handed over the Siri team to Mike Rockwell, head of Vision Pro. These changes indicate that Apple is facing challenges in internal management and execution as it races to catch up with competitors in the AI field.

尽管John Giannandrea仍负责苹果的大部分人工智能工作，但最新的变动将使他的团队能够更专注于底层人工智能技术的开发。与此同时，苹果也在加速机器人领域的研发步伐。机器人技术正迅速成为硅谷的热门领域，特斯拉和Meta等科技巨头都在该领域投入巨资。

While John Giannandrea remains responsible for most of Apple’s AI-related work, the latest changes will allow his team to focus more on the development of underlying AI technologies. At the same time, Apple is also accelerating its R&D progress in the robotics field. Robotics technology is quickly becoming a hot track in Silicon Valley, with tech giants such as Tesla and Meta investing heavily in this sector.

苹果的机器人部门在公司内部一直非常隐秘，由资深高管Kevin Lynch领导。该部门正在探索如何利用人工智能技术为设备赋能，可能为新的产品类别奠定基础。苹果目前正在推进多个机器人项目，包括一款配备机械臂的桌面机器人和一款移动性更强的轮式设备。这些产品可能集成显示屏，具备执行简单任务、拨打电话及回答问题的能力。

Apple’s robotics division has long been highly confidential within the company and is led by veteran executive Kevin Lynch. The division is exploring ways to leverage AI technology to empower devices, potentially laying the groundwork for new product categories. Apple is currently advancing multiple robotics projects, including a desktop robot equipped with a robotic arm and a more mobile wheeled device. These products may feature integrated displays and be capable of performing simple tasks, making phone calls, and answering questions.

苹果高层对John Ternus领导机器人项目充满信心。作为苹果CEO蒂姆·库克最信任的核心成员之一，John Ternus目前负责iPhone、iPad、Mac和Vision Pro等几乎所有产品的硬件工程。许多员工认为，John Ternus可能是苹果下一任CEO。此次调整也暗示苹果正在加快相关工作，并希望两个团队在同一领导下实现更紧密的协作。

Apple’s senior management has full confidence in John Ternus leading the robotics projects. As one of the most trusted core members of Apple CEO Tim Cook’s team, John Ternus is currently responsible for the hardware engineering of nearly all products, including the iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Vision Pro. Many employees believe that John Ternus is a potential candidate for Apple’s next CEO. This adjustment also signals that Apple is speeding up the progress of related work and hopes that the two teams will achieve closer collaboration under a single leadership structure..

然而，苹果的人工智能与机器学习团队（AI/ML）在过去几个月中面临着管理、理念和执行力等方面的挑战。部分员工甚至将其戏称为“AI/MLess”。尽管John Giannandrea尚未透露离职计划，但他职责的逐步削弱引发了外界对其未来角色的猜测。知情人士表示，苹果的人工智能与机器学习团队可能面临进一步拆分。（陈十一）

However, Apple’s Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning (AI/ML) team has faced multiple challenges in management, philosophy, and execution over the past few months. Some employees have even nicknamed the team "AI/MLess". Although John Giannandrea has not disclosed any plans to leave the company, the gradual reduction of his responsibilities has sparked speculation about his future role. People familiar with the matter stated that Apple’s AI/ML team may face further division. (Chen Shiyi)