Apple’s San Diego AI team faces relocation or termination

Bloomberg reports that Apple is disbanding a 121-person team tied to artificial intelligence operations in San Diego, putting many employees at risk of job loss, sources familiar with the matter have reported. The team, named Data Operations Annotations, was told it would do so. must move to Austin to merge with the Texas segment of the same team. Employees have until the end of February to decide whether they will move. If they choose not to, termination is scheduled for April 26.

The group, with offices in different countries, improves the functionality of Siri by examining requests from voice services. The closure of the San Diego team was announced by Christine DeFilippo, a top deputy to Apple's AI chief John Giannandrea.

Apple confirmed the relocation plan, stating that “everyone currently employed will have the opportunity to continue their role at Apple in Austin.” The company also highlights its commitment to San Diego and its continued expansion there.

The move came as a surprise to San Diego staff, who had expected a move within the city but have now been instructed to move to Texas. Most of the affected workers would not be willing to move to Austin.

Apple said employees looking to move to Austin by the end of June would keep their jobs, with the company offering a $7,000 moving stipend. For those who decide to leave Apple, their positions will be eliminated and they will receive four weeks of severance pay, plus an additional week for each year worked. Additionally, departing employees will receive six months of health insurance.

The loss of up to 121 employees is notable for Apple, as the company has managed to avoid widespread layoffs across the big tech sector in 2023. Apple has avoided being part of the trend, in part because it doesn't has not engaged in excessive hiring during the COVID-19 crisis. 19 pandemic.

Meanwhile, major layoffs hit other major companies like X (formerly Twitter), Amazon, Google, Microsoft, and Meta, collectively affecting more than 50,000 employees. Further contributing to this trend, Qualcomm recently announced plans to eliminate 1,258 positions at its San Diego and Santa Clara offices.