Craig Federighi now leads Apple's AI teams, a major shift after the company decided to use Google's Gemini for future Siri upgrades. This move confirms internal models couldn't keep pace, with a new report revealing a floundering AI focus under Federighi's skeptical stewardship. The software chief reportedly criticized the team's progress, leading to this strategic pivot.

Apple's reliance on third-party AI marks a stark departure from its long-held privacy messaging, which emphasized on-device processing and its secure Private Compute Cloud. Discussions with Google about using its cloud infrastructure suggest Apple may sacrifice its privacy-first approach to ship competitive features faster, potentially using Google's AI chips in its data centers.

Federighi's frugal reputation, which reportedly includes questioning team snack budgets, complicates hiring top-tier AI engineers who demand high salaries. With an AI pin rumored for 2027 and a revamped Siri hoped for 2026, Apple faces intense pressure to catch up to rivals like Google. The clock is ticking on delivering tangible results from this new AI strategy.