A change at the top, spotted by MacRumors, confirmed by Apple PR.

From the Wall Street Journal ($):

Apple Inc. has shifted oversight of its Siri voice-assistant team to Craig Federighi, putting the product in the hands of the technology giant’s top software engineer as it contends with rising competition from rivals such as Alphabet Inc. and Amazon.com Inc.

The decision moves control of Siri away from another senior vice president, Eddy Cue, who had overseen it since 2012. It takes place as Siri is increasingly enmeshed in Apple’s personal computer and smartphone operating systems, which Mr. Federighi also manages…

The new role was noted on Friday in a change to Mr. Federighi’s biography on Apple’s website. An Apple spokeswoman confirmed the change but declined to comment further…

Gene Munster, an analyst with Loup Ventures, said that Mr. Federighi brings more of a technical background than Mr. Cue, who heads internet software and services and has led Apple’s push into content by striking deals with music labels and Hollywood studios. Mr. Munster expects Mr. Federighi to open up Siri to more third-party developers, allowing those outsiders to use the service much like he has done with iOS.

“This whole area around voice is getting super competitive and it’s important Apple steps up their game,” Mr. Munster said. “This change to Craig overseeing Siri is one way to do that.”

My take: Smart move, just in time.