Apple cuts over 200 jobs in major reshuffle of Siri and Vision Pro teams
Apple cut more than 200 jobs across its Siri, Vision Pro, and related software teams on Friday, August 21, 2026, according to multiple reports and company confirmation. The targeted layoffs, impacting roughly 100 positions each in the Vision Pro and Siri organizations, were part of a strategic reshuffle aimed at focusing resources on new devices and AI-powered features, sources said.
Another approximately 100 roles were cut from Siri and related software engineering teams, particularly the Intelligent Systems Experience group responsible for AI-powered features, sources confirmed. The total of more than 200 job eliminations represents a targeted downsizing and realignment rather than a company-wide reduction, according to Apple.
The layoffs affected roughly 100 positions within Apple’s Vision Pro organization, including teams focused on gaming and immersive video content tied to the mixed-reality headset, according to multiple reports citing unnamed company insiders and Bloomberg.
Apple confirmed the changes in a statement, saying the company was “realigning some teams to evolve our business to deliver the best experiences for our users.” The statement acknowledged a “limited number of existing roles” were being eliminated but emphasized that new roles would be created as part of the restructuring. Apple said it was “grateful to these team members for their contributions” and committed to supporting them through the transition, including offering opportunities to apply for other positions within the company.
The Vision Pro team saw significant cuts, with sources indicating Apple is largely shutting down its gaming unit that developed experiences for the mixed-reality headset. The immersive video content group was also reduced, scaling back in-house high-budget productions. However, Apple plans to continue producing smaller-budget immersive videos and encourage third-party developers to create content for the platform, according to reports. Despite the layoffs and the headset’s modest user uptake and high $3,699 price point, Apple reportedly assured employees that the Vision Pro product line will continue, with a new model potentially arriving around 2028.
Within the Siri and software organizations, the layoffs reflect a shift toward a revamped, AI-powered version of Siri built on new technical architecture. Sources said the changes require different expertise, leading to the elimination of some existing roles and the creation of new positions aligned with the assistant’s updated infrastructure. The Intelligent Systems Experience group, part of Apple’s software engineering division, was notably affected as the company reallocates resources toward advanced AI capabilities and experiences.
Industry reports and company insiders described the overall restructuring as part of Apple’s broader strategic pivot to focus on new devices and artificial intelligence. The cuts coincide with Apple’s efforts to realign software and hardware roadmaps toward AI-powered experiences and future devices beyond the current Vision Pro and traditional Siri offerings. Analysts noted that the downsizing of Vision Pro’s gaming and immersive video teams corresponds with changing user behavior patterns and cost structures, prompting a leaner content strategy that relies more on external developers and partners.
The job cuts were first reported on Friday, August 21, 2026, with Apple confirming the restructuring that day and in subsequent media coverage. The move follows earlier, smaller reductions in the Vision Pro team, including a previously reported layoff of about 60 employees tied to that division. Sources said the restructuring is not a short-term cost-cutting measure but rather a targeted realignment to better allocate resources toward new devices and AI initiatives.
Apple has stated that affected employees will receive support during the transition and will have opportunities to apply for other roles within the company. Some staff from impacted groups, including the Intelligent Systems Experience and Vision Pro content teams, are expected to be reassigned or encouraged to transition into newly created positions supporting AI and next-generation experiences. While the reshuffle represents a significant change for more than 200 employees, it remains limited relative to Apple’s total workforce, underscoring its nature as a focused reorganization rather than a broad corporate downsizing.
The restructuring occurs amid a competitive landscape in AI assistants and mixed-reality markets, where rival companies are rapidly advancing generative AI and wearable platforms. Apple’s shift toward modernizing Siri’s underlying technology and adjusting Vision Pro’s content strategy reflects an effort to remain competitive by emphasizing machine learning, large-scale AI models, and sustainable content development. The company’s future plans include continuing investment in AI-centric offerings and new devices that extend beyond current product lines.
