Apple Axes 200 Jobs Amid AI and Hardware Pivot

Apple Inc. (NASDAQ: AAPL) has announced that it is cutting over 200 jobs across its Siri, software engineering, and Vision Pro divisions as part of a strategic pivot towards artificial intelligence and next-generation hardware.

The layoffs are evenly split between the Vision Pro group and the Siri voice assistant team, with around 100 positions cut in each area. The Intelligent Systems Experience unit, responsible for developing AI-driven capabilities across Apple's product ecosystem, is also being reorganized as part of this shift.

According to Apple, the realignments are aimed at evolving its business operations and will create new positions while offering affected employees transition support and opportunities to apply for alternative roles within the organization. The company stated that certain existing roles are being impacted due to the need for specialized skill sets in AI-enhanced software development.

The Vision Pro spatial computer, priced at $3,699, has struggled to gain widespread consumer adoption due to its premium price point and physical weight. As a result, Apple is largely dismantling its internal gaming team and scaling back a dedicated immersive video production unit, with plans to lean more heavily on third-party creators for content development.

Despite the workforce reductions, Apple confirmed that the Vision Pro hardware line and visionOS operating system remain active projects within its longer-term product roadmap. The company is shifting its near-term hardware priorities towards developing smart glasses that do not require complex 3D gaming or immersive media infrastructure.