Apple Cuts 200 Vision Pro Jobs, Shifts Focus to AI Glasses for 2027
Apple cut more than 200 jobs across its Siri, Vision Pro, and software teams between August 21 and 23, 2026, sources confirmed. The company scaled back Vision Pro gaming and immersive video work to shift focus toward artificial intelligence and smart glasses development for 2027, Bloomberg reported.
The job cuts reportedly included about 100 positions tied to the Vision Pro headset and roughly 100 more in Siri and related software teams, according to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, whose August 21, 2026, report was widely cited by outlets including the San Francisco Chronicle, TechCrunch, and The Verge. Sources confirmed that the reductions specifically affected teams working on Vision Pro gaming and immersive video content, areas that Apple is scaling back rather than abandoning. Apple did not provide a formal layoff total in its public statements, but Bloomberg’s reporting remains the most detailed and widely referenced account of the restructuring.
The job cuts reportedly included about 100 positions tied to the Vision Pro headset and roughly 100 more in Siri and related software teams, according to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman.
Apple told Bloomberg it is making changes to “evolve our business to deliver the best experiences for our users,” and indicated it would create new roles as part of the reorganization. The cuts also impacted the company’s Intelligent Systems Experience group, which handles AI-driven software capabilities, reflecting a broader shift in priorities. Multiple reports said that Apple is reallocating resources from the Vision Pro headset toward artificial intelligence and the development of smart glasses, which are expected to launch in 2027.
The company’s move away from Vision Pro gaming and immersive video production aligns with a strategic emphasis on lighter, more affordable wearables. The Vision Pro headset, priced at $3,699, has faced scrutiny for its high cost, which is cited in several reports as a factor in Apple’s decision to rethink its product mix. Despite the cutbacks, sources confirmed that Apple is not canceling the Vision Pro product line. Instead, the company appears to be narrowing its focus, continuing development of the headset and its visionOS operating system while shifting some content production to external studios.
Several reports describe Apple’s next major wearable effort as AI smart glasses designed to compete with Meta’s Ray-Ban line. These glasses are expected to integrate cameras, Siri functionality, and Visual Intelligence features rather than offering a full augmented-reality display. Bloomberg and other outlets reported that Apple is moving staff and budget toward this smart-glasses project from the Vision Pro team. According to sources, Apple plans to unveil the glasses at its Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) in 2027 and launch them later that year, making the smart glasses a near-term hardware priority.
The restructuring appears to reflect a multi-stage shift in Apple’s wearable strategy, with some reporting that the company had been prioritizing AI smart glasses over a Vision Pro headset revamp as early as October 2025. A report dated August 20, 2026, noted that Apple had already laid off at least 60 employees tied to its virtual reality group, which may have been an earlier phase of the broader cuts confirmed in late August 2026.
While the exact number of Vision Pro employees affected varies among reports, the consensus based on Bloomberg’s account is that more than 200 jobs were cut across the company’s Siri, Vision Pro, and software teams between August 21 and 23, 2026. Apple’s official communications have emphasized evolving its business and user experience without confirming specific layoff figures.
The Vision Pro headset remains part of Apple’s mixed-reality strategy, but with a reduced emphasis on gaming and immersive content, according to multiple sources. The company is reportedly shifting some content development to outside studios to maintain the product’s ecosystem. The strategic reallocation toward AI smart glasses reflects Apple’s assessment of greater commercial potential in lighter, more accessible wearable technology.
The reported timeline for the smart glasses points to a 2027 launch, positioning them as Apple’s next major wearable product following the Vision Pro’s 2024 debut. Industry observers note that this shift could mark a significant change in Apple’s approach to augmented reality and artificial intelligence integration in consumer devices.
