Apple has plucked a top talent from Amazon to lead it’s growing Siri division.
Amazon search technologist William Stasior is leaving Amazon for Apple, reveals a source speaking in confidence today with All Things D.
At the online retail giant, Stasior has been in charge of A9, Amazon’s search and search advertising unit. The former AltaVista exec co-founded the independent company and has run it since Udi Manber left for Google.
Based on what we’re hearing, Stasior will take over the Siri unit, which remains a major focus for Apple as the voice-activated personal-assistant program continues to grow in popularity and sophistication.
For Apple, the acquisition of talent represents a refreshing change of pace. Recently, Adam Cheyer, who co-founded the voice recognition software company originally behind Siri, left Apple earlier this year. And former Siri chief Dag Kittlaus similarly bolted in October of last year.
For now, Amazon will not comment on Stasior’s reported departure.
