Apple lays off 200-plus employees as AI, smart glasses take priority

Apple has laid off more than 200 employees from its Vision Pro headset and Siri teams as the company reshapes its workforce to focus more heavily on artificial intelligence (AI) and smart glasses, according to Apple analyst Mark Gurman.

The cuts reportedly affect around 100 employees in the Vision Pro division and another 100 in software teams working on Siri, with gaming and immersive video-content staff among those most affected by the restructuring.

Apple is also overhauling parts of its Siri organisation. Several employees working on older technology have been let go as the company shifts toward newer expertise needed to develop its large language model (LLM)-based AI technology.

The company confirmed the layoffs and organisational changes, saying some positions were eliminated as product plans and business priorities evolved. Apple said it would also create new roles requiring skills aligned with its future needs and allow affected employees to apply for other open positions within the company.

The restructuring comes as Apple seeks to redirect resources toward AI-powered products and smart glasses. Analysts say the weaker-than-expected market reception of the Vision Pro may have contributed to the changes. Priced at more than $3,500, the headset has struggled to achieve broad consumer adoption.

Rather than abandoning Vision Pro, however, Apple is expected to continue developing the headset and its operating system. A next-generation model could arrive around 2028, while the company increasingly explores lighter, more accessible products such as AI-enabled smart glasses.

The latest changes indicate that Apple is seeking to reposition its computing strategy around AI, smart glasses and next-generation wearable technology while maintaining its long-term Vision Pro ambitions.