Apple Lands a Big A.I. Fish From Google

By William Vogeler, Esq. on April 04, 2018 | Last updated on March 21, 2019

Google 'John Giannandrea' and you will see how fast leaders move in the search and artificial intelligence markets.

Giannandrea was Google's chief on Monday. On Tuesday, he was Apple's.

In a move designed to push Apple to the top of the field, Giannandrea will run the company's "machine and A.I. strategy."

Apple Catch-Up

Giannandrea joined Google in 2010, and helped push A.I. throughout the company's products, including internet search, gmail, and its digital assistant. At Apple, he will be one of 16 executives reporting to CEO Tim Cook.

"Our technology must be infused with the values we all hold dear," Cook said. "John shares our commitment to privacy and our thoughtful approach as we make computers even smarter and more personal."

According to reports, Apple has been trying to catch up in artificial intelligence. It is an increasingly important technology for companies that want their computers to talk and perform higher functions.

TechCrunch said Apple was "stealing" Giannandrea, but the ezine wasn't talking about his salary. Some Silicon Valley salaries have exceeded eight figures.

More Means More

The quick hiring, which some called "poaching," also surprised some. However, Apple has hunted for Google talent in the past.

The company hired Carnegie Mellon professor Russ Salakhutdinov, who studied under Geoffrey Hinton at the University of Toronto. Hinton has responsibility for the Google Brain Lab.

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