Apple is eliminating nearly 150 jobs at its Cupertino headquarters and Sunnyvale offices as the company restructures its operations to prioritize artificial intelligence, according to the Los Angeles Times. The layoffs affect software engineering and machine learning roles across teams developing the Siri digital assistant and the Vision Pro headset, following a separate cut of 57 jobs in Escondido in June, per the LA Times report.
Vision Pro Cutbacks and the Shift to Smart Glasses
Bloomberg reported that approximately 100 positions were removed from the Vision Pro division, while another 100 cuts hit Siri and software teams. Apple is largely shutting down a team focused on headset gaming and shrinking a unit that produces immersive video content for the device, according to the report. Despite these reductions, Apple told workers that the Vision Pro and its visionOS operating system are not going away, per Bloomberg. The company is instead redirecting resources toward developing smart glasses that will not support immersive video or games to compete with Meta’s Ray-Ban glasses, according to the LA Times.
Industry analysts suggest that when evaluating tech sector adjustments, hardware teams are focusing on lightweight wearables and AI integration as consumer adoption patterns evolve.
Restructuring Siri and Intelligent Systems
The workforce reductions accompany a reorganization of Apple’s Intelligent Systems Experience group and software engineering teams. Bloomberg reported that Apple plans to create new roles to support an upcoming AI-infused version of Siri built on new technical architecture. This transition requires different expertise, leading the company to eliminate specific legacy roles while onboarding staff for the Intelligent Systems Experience team, according to the report. The changes aim to streamline development as multiple groups build AI functions for apps and services.
Leadership Transitions and Broader Industry Layoffs
The job cuts arrive just before a planned leadership transition at Apple. CEO Tim Cook is scheduled to step down next week, with hardware chief John Ternus set to take over the helm, according to the LA Times. While Apple’s reductions remain relatively small compared to past announcements from competitors like Amazon, Block, Meta, Oracle, and Snap, they mirror a broader industry trend. U.S. tech companies cut 123,653 jobs during the first four months of the year, marking a 66% jump from the same period one year earlier, per LA Times reporting. Outplacement firm Challenger, Gray and Christmas noted in June that AI advancements are transforming roles as executives adjust headcounts while staff utilize automated coding and content generation tools.
Did You Know? A study published in June by Ramp and Revelio Labs revealed that certain high-intensity AI adopters actually expanded their total headcount two years after adopting the technology.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many employees is Apple laying off?
Apple is cutting nearly 150 jobs in California, including positions at its Cupertino headquarters and Sunnyvale offices, following an earlier cut of 57 jobs in Escondido, according to the Los Angeles Times.
Which teams are affected by the job cuts?
The reductions primarily impact software engineering and machine learning personnel working on the Vision Pro headset, the Siri digital assistant, and the Intelligent Systems Experience group, according to Bloomberg.
Is Apple canceling the Vision Pro?
No. Apple told employees that the Vision Pro and visionOS are continuing, though the company has reallocated resources to focus near-term development on smart glasses, per Bloomberg.
Who is succeeding Tim Cook as Apple CEO?
Hardware chief John Ternus is set to succeed Tim Cook, who is stepping down from his role as chief executive, according to the Los Angeles Times.
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