Siri Co-Founder Dag Kittlaus Leaves Apple

[MacRumors]

AllThingsD reports that Siri co-founder Dag Kittlaus has left his position at Apple, moving on following the rebirth of the voice-powered personal assistant as a key feature of the iPhone 4S.

There were several reasons for the departure, which was amicable and has been planned for a while, sources said. They included Kittlaus' family being in Chicago, a desire to take time off and an interest in brainstorming new entrepreneurial ideas.

The report claims that Kittlaus left Apple just after the iPhone 4S launch but that his departure is not indicative of a mass exodus of the Siri team, as other key former Siri executives are remaining at Apple.

Article Link: Siri Co-Founder Dag Kittlaus Leaves Apple

 

[soco]

Hm, stayed around for the payoff and to make sure things went as planned, then out to work on what's next?

 

[aikomhoch]

Thanks for the tech and enjoy the payday!

 

[thewitt]

Considering Apple bought Siri for 800,000,000 this guy can probably go do about anything he wants...

 

[mdriftmeyer]

Well he was around for well over a year and a half. And no, they still have not disclosed the amount paid for Siri that I've found.

 

[Widashy]

Hope this won't affect future development of Siri...

 

[applesith]

Hm, stayed around for the payoff and to make sure things went as planned, then out to work on what's next?

He's the co-founder, so he should have the payoff and see that Siri gets off to a good start before leaving.

 

[brookshanes]

This is what

Hm, stayed around for the payoff and to make sure things went as planned, then out to work on what's next?

Thankfully his family means something to him. He should spend time with them because he probably never saw them when he was co-founding and selling Siri.

//EDIT: Wow, -2 for me saying he should be with his own family???

//EDIT part deux: Thanks for the upticks! Some family men and women out there after all!

 

[aliensporebomb]

Ah

"When last heard from, Kittlaus indicated he was going to spend the next three weeks rolling around on a big pile of money."

Good luck Dag!

 

[GoCubsGo]

Siri doesn't seem to understand who Dag Kittlaus is so I guess out of sight, out of mind!

 

[rdowns]

Considering Apple bought Siri for 800,000,000 this guy can probably go do about anything he wants...

Where do you pull that number from?

 

[hexor]

I would not be surprised to find him show up next at Google.

 

[thewitt]

Where do you pull that number from?

Ah, wrong acquisition. Sorry.

Techcrunch reported 200,000,000+ not 800,000,000

 

[scott911]

Ah, wrong acquisition. Sorry.

Techcrunch reported 200,000,000+ not 800,000,000

no worries - I find it difficult to see much difference between either of those numbers!

Unless you're buying small countries, then maybe the extra cash would be useful

 

[Diode]

I would not be surprised to find him show up next at Google.

Ehh, people like this enjoy the start-up phase. He will prob take some time off, start something else, rinse and repeat.

 

[cvaldes]

Thankfully his family means something to him. He should spend time with them because he probably never saw them when he was co-founding and selling Siri.

//EDIT: Wow, -2 for me saying he should be with his own family???

Sensible commentary is not popular in this forum. You're lucky that a few munificent souls (including me) gave you plusses.

Welcome to MacRumors!

 

[brookshanes]

Sensible commentary is not popular in this forum. You're lucky that a few munificent souls (including me) gave you plusses.

Welcome to MacRumors!

Thanks for the upticks!

 

[iforget]

Siri, why did you co-founder leave Apple?

 

[NAG]

All the best to him and I hope whatever he does next is just as innovative.

 

[ArtOfWarfare]

Ehh, people like this enjoy the start-up phase. He will prob take some time off, start something else, rinse and repeat.

My understanding was that working at Apple had the feel of a perpetual startup company.

 

[Gasu E.]

//EDIT: Wow, -2 for me saying he should be with his own family???

I just gave you a "-1" for caring what other random people think.

 

[MovieCutter]

//EDIT: Wow, -2 for me saying he should be with his own family???

//EDIT part deux: Thanks for the upticks! Some family men and women out there after all!

People pay attention to that crap???

 

[CFreymarc]

Hm, stayed around for the payoff and to make sure things went as planned, then out to work on what's next?

Yes very well planned. He is riding the wave of the guy that made voice recognition workable after almost forty years of attempts. My guess is he'll get picked up by a competitor, make a non-infringing voice rec technology with the core engineers he worked with and double-dip to cash in. Have a good vacation first!

 

[Prototypical]

Ah, wrong acquisition. Sorry.

Techcrunch reported 200,000,000+ not 800,000,000

Man, only $100M for him instead of $400M? What a ripoff!

 

[BC2009]

This is a quite common post-acquisition occurrence for incoming executives. They are required to remain for a period in order to obtain some payoff and once they obtain it, they move on to the next venture they want to start.