Siri co-founder leaves Apple following iPhone 4S launch
The co-founder and CEO of Siri, responsible for developing the voice recognition technology in the iPhone 4S, has departed Apple on "amicable" terms.
Dag Kittlaus left his position at Apple after the launch of the iPhone 4S, according to Kara Swisher of All Things D. He served as CEO of Siri since 2007, and after the company was acquired by Apple in April of 2010, he led its speech recognition development.
"There were several reasons for the departure, which was amicable and has been planned for a while, sources said," Swisher wrote. "They included Kittlaus' family being in Chicago, a desire to take time off and an interest in brainstorming new entrepreneurial ideas."
His LinkedIn profile still lists his current title as director of Siri and speech recognition for iOS at Apple in the San Francisco Bay area. The other titles he currently holds are a member of the Cabrini Green Tutoring Program Board of Directors, and a founding advisor at Palindrome Advisors. He was previously an entrepreneur-in-residence at Stanford Research Institute, and a general manager at Motorola.
Siri technology is one of the main selling points of the iPhone 4S, Apple's latest smartphone model that launched earlier this month. Using natural language, users can have their phone do complex tasks like send a text message or e-mail, make or modify a calendar appointment, set reminders or alarms, or even look up information like the date of the next full moon.
Swisher said that Kittlaus departed Apple just after the launch of the iPhone 4S. Sources told her that other key executives from Siri are expected to remain with the iPhone maker.
After the iPhone 4S and its Siri voice control were unveiled on Oct. 4, Kittlaus was finally capable of speaking publicly about his work on Siri at Apple. He immediately took to Twitter that same day.
"If you are a start-up you want to get acquired by Apple," he wrote. "Fun times."
Though the Siri brand remains with the voice recognition technology found in the iPhone 4S, it is believed that Apple's implementation also uses intellectual property licensed from Nuance Communications, makers of Dragon NaturallySpeaking. Neither Apple nor Nuance have confirmed that Nuance's technology plays a part in Siri on the iPhone 4S.
Dag Kittlaus left his position at Apple after the launch of the iPhone 4S, according to Kara Swisher of All Things D. He served as CEO of Siri since 2007, and after the company was acquired by Apple in April of 2010, he led its speech recognition development.
"There were several reasons for the departure, which was amicable and has been planned for a while, sources said," Swisher wrote. "They included Kittlaus' family being in Chicago, a desire to take time off and an interest in brainstorming new entrepreneurial ideas."
His LinkedIn profile still lists his current title as director of Siri and speech recognition for iOS at Apple in the San Francisco Bay area. The other titles he currently holds are a member of the Cabrini Green Tutoring Program Board of Directors, and a founding advisor at Palindrome Advisors. He was previously an entrepreneur-in-residence at Stanford Research Institute, and a general manager at Motorola.
Siri technology is one of the main selling points of the iPhone 4S, Apple's latest smartphone model that launched earlier this month. Using natural language, users can have their phone do complex tasks like send a text message or e-mail, make or modify a calendar appointment, set reminders or alarms, or even look up information like the date of the next full moon.
Swisher said that Kittlaus departed Apple just after the launch of the iPhone 4S. Sources told her that other key executives from Siri are expected to remain with the iPhone maker.
After the iPhone 4S and its Siri voice control were unveiled on Oct. 4, Kittlaus was finally capable of speaking publicly about his work on Siri at Apple. He immediately took to Twitter that same day.
"If you are a start-up you want to get acquired by Apple," he wrote. "Fun times."
Though the Siri brand remains with the voice recognition technology found in the iPhone 4S, it is believed that Apple's implementation also uses intellectual property licensed from Nuance Communications, makers of Dragon NaturallySpeaking. Neither Apple nor Nuance have confirmed that Nuance's technology plays a part in Siri on the iPhone 4S.
Comments
I think apple will not have any problems scaling the service or adding new features without the cofounder. It's good that he stayed this long and brought his companies acquisition to a logical end, now he can go on and focus on other ideas he's got.
That makes sense and is predictable. I hope he does something else interesting.
good luck to him.
Probably embarrased and ashamed...
good luck to him.
First, you'll need to read the article.
Probably embarrased and ashamed...
good luck to him.
why in the world would he be embarrassed and ashamed, you should be embarrassed you misspelled embarrassed.
Probably embarrased and ashamed...
good luck to him.
What does he have to be "embarrased and ashamed" about?
Probably embarrased and ashamed...
good luck to him.
Yes, building a company that Apple buys for 9 figures is certainly something to be ashamed of, NOT!
However, posting what you did with no knowledge what so ever is!
What does he have to be "embarrased and ashamed" about?
C'mon... the guy is a troll... always has been. You'll never get an answer.
Let him tell you about how Apple was all he ever bought until he saw the light...
Probably embarrased and ashamed...
good luck to him.
Why don't you elaborate why you think he would be embarrassed and ashamed? Your implication is that Siri is something he should be embarrassed about... so why don't you spend some time arguing that point and explaining what about the product is so embarrassing.
C'mon... the guy is a troll... always has been. You'll never get an answer.
Let him tell you about how Apple was all he ever bought until he saw the light...
You're right of course. I took a quick peek at his other posts and should've known better.
I would/will do the same!
Why don't you elaborate why you think he would be embarrassed and ashamed? Your implication is that Siri is something he should be embarrassed about... so why don't you spend some time arguing that point and explaining what about the product is so embarrassing.
Maybe he's embarrassed and ashamed because he's doing charity work too? Or because he hasn't run his ideas past Archipellago to get the approval of a true industry visionary?
Someone ask Siri why Dag is leaving. Siri knows.
Great post
I would love for Siri's voice to be more natural like apple's Alex. Wonder why Apple didn't make it sound more natural.
Interesting read at CNN. Last paragraph addresses your question.
http://edition.cnn.com/2011/10/21/te...ces/index.html
Interesting read at CNN. Last paragraph addresses your question.
http://edition.cnn.com/2011/10/21/te...ces/index.html
Oh, that's nonsense. Guy's completely deluded.
This is the voice that WINDOWS 3rd gen iPod shuffle users hear.
Mac users hear Alex. There's absolutely no excuse for not having Alex be Siri's voice.
He got paid big time... now time to relax and think about the gold plated future.
I would/will do the same!
If he is involved with Cabrini Green, then he is motivated by more than money... much more.