🧠 Food for thought

Implications, context, and why it matters.

Apple’s new AI hire ties to work on a delayed Siri

• Apple hired Lilian Rincon while a broad Siri rebuild reportedly slipped to at least 2026, widening the AI gap with competitors 1.
• Internal trials of the updated Siri ran into slow replies, wrong handling of questions, and breakdowns on multi-step requests 2.
• Rincon previously worked on Google Assistant and holds patents for autonomous software agents, software that can plan and carry out tasks on a user’s behalf, which maps to areas where Siri has struggled 3.
• The hire follows other leadership changes, including Amar Subramanya, an ex-Google executive from Gemini (Google’s flagship AI model) who is now Apple’s VP of AI reporting to Craig Federighi 4.

Recruiting from rivals points to a change in Apple’s AI approach

• Rincon’s arrival suggests Apple is leaning more on outside hires and partnerships, including plans tied to technology from Google’s Gemini 5.
• The rebuilt Siri is expected to run on refreshed versions of Apple’s in-house models, plus technology from Google’s Gemini, as Apple works to close the AI race gap 6.
• Putting a former Google product leader, with experience across Google Shopping and Google Assistant, into a top marketing job hints at the need to improve AI messaging in a market that views Apple as behind 7.