Ternus Reportedly Urges Federighi to Accelerate Apple's AI Plans

Apple CEO John Ternus has privately pressed software chief Craig Federighi to accelerate the company's AI roadmap and pursue more ambitious capabilities beyond improvements to Siri, according to Mark Gurman.

During a closed-door meeting in recent weeks, Ternus expressed frustration with what he sees as a reluctance to embrace AI with the urgency shown by competitors.

Some software engineering and design employees describe a highly hands-on management style under Federighi, with vigorous technical debate that can make it difficult for competing proposals to gain traction. Those employees feel they have limited influence over product direction.

Planning is another source of friction. The software organization typically works on a 12- to 18-month horizon, while hardware teams plan several years ahead. That mismatch has sometimes complicated development, contributing to delays or less ambitious initial versions of products.

Gurman also credits Federighi with bringing a functioning Siri to market after the previous AI leadership struggled to deliver. The software chief took control of the effort, and the rebuilt Siri launched in beta in September with personal context, onscreen awareness, and app actions.

Siri engineering vice president Mike Rockwell, whose possible 2027 departure emerged in April, continues to seriously consider stepping down from his role or leaving Apple altogether. Rockwell led development of both Vision Pro and the new Siri.

If Rockwell leaves or moves to another position within Apple, additional responsibilities would likely fall to former Google executive Amar Subramanya and Federighi deputy Sebastien Marineau. Marineau currently leads teams integrating AI into iOS.

Some employees see Marineau as a potential eventual successor to Federighi, although succession remains a distant prospect. Federighi has given no indication that he plans to leave, and little has been done to establish a clear path for a replacement.