Mike Rockwell, who created the Vision Pro and now oversees efforts to revamp Siri, has considered leaving or reducing his role at Apple, according to a new report from Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman.
Apparently, he wasn’t happy when Apple restructured its artificial intelligence strategy under Craig Federigihi, senior vice president of software engineering, in January. Here’s some details from Gurman’s report:
Mike Rockwell (…) has considered leaving or moving into an advisory role next year, according to people with knowledge of the matter. He has had reservations about reporting to his new boss, software chief Craig Federighi, and desires a larger role.
Years ago, Rockwell had been on a path to a job defining Apple’s product and AI road map, a position potentially akin to chief technology officer. The idea made sense given the company’s belief that head-worn wearables would be a strong component of its post-iPhone future.
Now the outlook is less clear. Though Apple is developing smart glasses and other wearable devices, the original Vision Pro failed to resonate with consumers due to its price and weight. Still, Rockwell would be unlikely to leave his job before the Siri upgrade is complete.
Gurman adds that even if Rockwell decides to either leave Apple or move into an advisory role, he “would be unlikely to leave his job before the Siri upgrade is complete.”
Rockwell has been named to the X-R Hall of Fame. Here’s what
: Mike Rockwell, renowned for his leadership in cutting-edge technology projects across professional-grade audio, video, and 3D design tools, has been instrumental in leading Apple’s core development in spatial computing. As the head of the Technology Development Group, later renamed the Vision Products Group, Rockwell has spearheaded the development of one of XR’s most highly anticipated products: the Apple Vision Pro. The release of the Vision Pro in early 2024 was a game changer for the entire spatial computing industry and Rockwell’s efforts will have undoubtedly helped to redefine the landscape of AR, VR and immersive experiences for years to come.
The XR Hall of Fame is an initiative by AWE (Augmented World Expo) that honors pioneering individuals who built the augmented, virtual, and mixed reality (XR) industry.
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