According to Bloomberg, Adam Cheyer, co-founder of Siri and Apple Engineering Director post-acquisition, has left the company. The news was confirmed by Cheyer himself in an email to Xconomy, stating that he had indeed left "some time ago" due to personal reasons.
Background on Adam Cheyer’s Tenure at Apple
Cheyer joined Apple in 2010 when Siri was acquired by the tech giant in a deal rumored to have cost over $200 million. At the time, Siri was still an independent company, but its innovative natural language processing (NLP) technology caught Apple’s attention.
As part of the acquisition, Cheyer and his co-founders, Dag Kittlaus and Tom Gruber, became integral members of the Apple team. However, their departure from the company would be a gradual process.
Dag Kittlaus’ Departure in 2011
One year after the acquisition, in 2011, another Siri co-founder, Dag Kittlaus, left Apple to pursue new ideas and spend more time with his family. Although he was no longer part of the company, Kittlaus maintained ties with his former colleagues and continued to contribute to the tech industry.
Tom Gruber’s Continued Involvement
In contrast to his co-founders, Tom Gruber, the third Siri co-founder, remained at Apple working in product design. His departure has yet to be announced, but his dedication to the company is evident through his continued involvement in shaping Apple’s products and services.
Reasons for Adam Cheyer’s Departure Unclear
The news of Adam Cheyer’s departure from Apple was met with little context or explanation regarding the circumstances surrounding his exit. Bloomberg cited "three people familiar with the situation" as their source, but no specific reason was provided.
However, it is worth noting that Siri’s performance has been a subject of criticism over the years, and efforts to improve its functionality have had limited success in addressing these concerns.
Apple’s Response and Ongoing Investigation
In response to Bloomberg’s report, TechCrunch reached out to Apple for confirmation. Although the company declined to provide a statement, it is clear that the departure of such an influential figure as Adam Cheyer will be closely monitored by industry observers.
As more information becomes available, this story will be updated to reflect any changes or developments.
Update: Adam Cheyer’s Confirmation
In an email to Xconomy, Adam Cheyer confirmed his departure from Apple, stating that he had left the company "some time ago" due to personal reasons. He also expressed that he has "no plans" regarding his professional life in the immediate future.
Adam Cheyer’s Legacy and Future Plans
As a co-founder of Siri, Adam Cheyer played a crucial role in shaping Apple’s AI capabilities. Although his departure from the company may seem sudden, it is clear that his legacy will continue to influence the tech industry for years to come.
With no immediate plans for the future, many are left wondering what the next chapter holds for this influential figure. Will he pursue new ventures, or focus on personal projects? Only time will tell, but one thing is certain: Adam Cheyer’s impact on the world of technology will be felt for generations to come.
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