Apple Inc. is cutting more than 200 jobs across its Vision Pro, Siri, and software engineering teams. This significant restructuring, reported in late August 2026, aims to realign company resources towards artificial intelligence and future hardware products. The layoffs affect approximately 100 employees from the Vision Pro division and another 100 from Siri and software groups, marking one of Apple's most notable workforce changes tied to its evolving AI strategy.[9to5mac+15]
Vision Pro Shifts Focus from Gaming and Immersive Video
Apple is largely shutting down its Vision Pro team focused on gaming and scaling back the group responsible for producing immersive video content. These changes reflect a strategic adjustment for the mixed-reality headset, which debuted in February 2024. The company is re-evaluating its investment in areas where customer adoption has fallen short of expectations.[9to5mac+12]
The Vision Pro, priced at $3,499 at launch and later $3,699, has faced limited consumer interest.Sales were estimated at just 45,000 units in the fourth quarter of 2025, according to IDC.The headset's high cost and considerable weight of 22 ounces have been cited as factors limiting its appeal.Producing immersive video content, a key feature of the Vision Pro, requires multiple crews and can cost millions of dollars for a single episode.Apple reportedly found these production costs difficult to justify given the small number of active Vision Pro users.[pcmag+13]
Apple plans to produce a smaller number of immersive videos in-house and encourage third-party companies to create content for the headset.Despite the cutbacks, Apple has assured employees that the Vision Pro and its visionOS operating system are not being eliminated.The company is still considering a new Vision Pro model for release as early as the end of 2028.However, Apple's near-term focus is shifting towards launching smart glasses, which are expected to arrive in 2027 and will not support immersive video or advanced gaming titles.Rumors from last year suggested Apple had shelved plans for a Vision Pro 2 or a lightweight Vision Air entirely, opting instead for smart glasses with greater mass-market potential.[9to5mac+36]
Siri Reorganization Driven by New AI Architecture
The reorganization within Apple also impacts its Siri and software teams, with roughly 100 positions being cut.This move is directly linked to the development of a new, AI-powered version of the Siri assistant. The revamped Siri AI is being built on a new technical architecture, which requires different expertise from the existing team.[9to5mac+18]
Apple's Intelligent Systems Experience team, a software engineering unit responsible for some AI features across its devices, is also affected by these cuts.The company is realigning these teams to match new priorities and accelerate the development of AI-powered capabilities across its apps, features, and services.This restructuring will eliminate some existing positions while creating new roles to support the updated Siri and broader AI initiatives.[9to5mac+26]
The new Siri AI platform made its debut at this year's Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC).A public beta of the updated Siri, featuring enhanced AI capabilities, is expected to be available before the close of 2026.This new generation of Siri AI is slated to be available across iOS 27, iPadOS 27, macOS 27, and visionOS 27.The company's focus indicates a significant strategic pivot towards advanced artificial intelligence.[mlq+15]
Apple's Broader Strategic Realignment for Future Devices
Apple confirmed these organizational changes in a statement, emphasizing a commitment "to evolve our business to deliver the best experiences for our users."The company noted that while these changes impact a limited number of existing roles, new positions will also be created as part of this shift.[9to5mac+19]
An Apple spokesperson expressed gratitude to the affected team members for their contributions. The company is committed to supporting them throughout their transition, including providing opportunities to apply for other roles within Apple.This approach aligns with Apple's history of internal mobility during team reorganizations.[9to5mac+19]
These job reductions reflect Apple's broader efforts to reshape its workforce and investments around artificial intelligence and future hardware products.The move comes as Apple accelerates its work on a new generation of AI products and services. Simultaneously, the company is reassessing investments in areas where customer adoption has not met expectations, such as specific Vision Pro functionalities.The restructuring spans both hardware and software teams, underscoring a comprehensive strategic realignment across the company.This pivot aims to better align Apple's resources with evolving market demands and its ambitious AI roadmap.[engadget+32]
Apple's strategic adjustments underscore its dedication to innovation and adapting to a rapidly changing technological landscape, particularly in artificial intelligence and next-generation computing devices.
