Apple Slashes Vision Pro and Siri Staff to Pivot Toward AI Glasses

Apple is reducing its workforce by more than 200 positions across its Siri and Vision Pro divisions, according to reporting from Bloomberg via Engadget and TechCrunch. The cuts are split evenly, with approximately 100 employees removed from the Vision Pro team and another 100 impacting the Siri and Intelligent Systems Experience teams.

Engadget reports that the Vision Pro layoffs specifically target teams focused on gaming and immersive video. The company reportedly determined that the high cost of producing immersive content is not justified by the limited number of users for the $3,699 headset, which has struggled due to its price and cumbersome user experience. While Apple told employees that VisionOS and the Vision Pro are not being discontinued—and may see a new model as early as 2028—the company is reportedly shifting its focus toward Meta-like AR smart glasses.

Simultaneously, Apple is moving away from the legacy version of Siri in favor of a new LLM-based AI system introduced with iOS 27. Engadget notes that the new system requires different technical expertise, leading to the cuts in the legacy software division.

Apple confirmed the realignments to Bloomberg, stating the company is evolving its business to deliver better user experiences and will create new roles as part of the change. The shift comes during a difficult transition for the company; TechCrunch reports that Apple recently raised prices on iPads and Macs and introduced a hardware leasing plan to offset rising production costs driven by an AI-related memory shortage. Additionally, Engadget reports that Apple's former VP in charge of the Vision Pro recently departed for OpenAI, a company Apple is currently suing for trade theft, according to TechCrunch.