Apple Unexpectedly Closes San Diego Office, Relocating Employees to Austin
In a surprising move, tech giant Apple has announced the closure of its San Diego office, forcing 121 employees to relocate to Austin, Texas. This unexpected decision has left the San Diego team, responsible for Siri and artificial intelligence features, shocked and uncertain about their future.
Initially, the San Diego employees were informed that they would be relocated to another Apple campus within the city, but the company swiftly changed its plans. Now, those who choose not to relocate or apply for another San Diego-based role will be laid off. The deadline for making this decision is the end of February, and those who do not relocate will be terminated on April 26.
Apple has declined to disclose which San Diego office location will be closing its doors. The San Diego team played a crucial role in analyzing questions posed to Siri and evaluating its responses, particularly in various languages like Hebrew, English, Spanish, Portuguese, Arabic, and French.
However, Apple reassured current employees that they would have the opportunity to continue their roles with the company in Austin. It seems that Apple’s expansion plans in San Diego are now primarily focused on hardware and software engineering positions. Their objective is to hire 5,000 people in the region by 2026, with over 480 job openings already available, primarily in engineering.
Unfortunately, some employees affected by the relocation fear that they may not be eligible for many engineering roles due to their lack of an engineering background. This has added to the uncertainty and anxiety among the San Diego team.
Despite the closure of the San Diego office, Apple has been actively acquiring more office space to accommodate its workforce expansion. They own the former Hewlett Packard inkjet research lab facility in Rancho Bernardo and recently purchased the seven-building Rancho Vista Corporate Center for a whopping $445 million in 2022.
As Apple continues to grow and evolve, these unexpected changes reflect the rapid nature of the technology industry. While the company is steering its focus towards engineering roles, it remains to be seen how the affected employees will navigate their uncertain futures. As the end of February approaches, their decision to relocate or seek new opportunities in San Diego hangs in the balance.
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