In a surprising turn of events, Apple has decided to shut down its team of 121 employees in San Diego responsible for its artificial intelligence operations. The team, known as Data Operations Annotations, has been informed that they will have to relocate to merge with the Texas branch of the same team in Austin.
Initially, the San Diego group played a crucial role in enhancing Siri through voice service queries. They were responsible for listening to Siri queries and improving its performance. However, in 2019, Apple made this practice optional for customers, replacing the contractors with full-time employees.
The team focused on optimizing Siri in multiple languages, including Hebrew, English, Spanish dialects, Portuguese, Arabic, and French. The relocation announcement was made by a top deputy to Apple’s AI chief, John Giannandrea.
While Apple has stated its commitment to San Diego and its significant growth in the region, the decision to move the AI team to one location in Austin has come as a surprise to the San Diego staff. They were initially informed that they would be relocated to a new Apple campus in the area, but instead, they have now been asked to move to Texas.
Many of the affected workers have expressed their reluctance to relocate to Austin, particularly since they believe they may not be eligible for engineering roles. Apple has provided little information regarding their future employment prospects, only stating that they can apply for other positions within the company.
To incentivize relocation, Apple is offering a $7,000 stipend to employees who choose to move to Austin by the end of June. Those who decline the offer will have their roles eliminated and receive severance pay based on their length of service, along with six months of health insurance.
While Apple has largely avoided layoffs during the pandemic, this move could potentially result in the departure of some employees. The San Diego team now faces a difficult decision, weighing the benefits of relocation against potential job insecurity and career prospects.
The source of the article is from the blog kunsthuisoaleer.nl