Apple is making a big change to Siris leadership within the company. Per Mark Gurman, former Vision Pro head Mike Rockwell will now be in charge. While this might seem like an odd fit, the best part of the move may actually have little to do with Rockwell specifically, and more what it says about Apples priorities.Mike Rockwells Vision Pro experience doesnt make him a natural Siri choiceMy biggest initial reaction to todays news was likely the same one you had: surprise at Mike Rockwell being the newly chosen Siri head.Yes, Apple really is trusting the Vision Pro guy with the future of Siri.Rockwell has led Apples Vision Products Group for years, with no AI background to speak of.Despite that, there are some encouraging tidbits in Gurmans report about Rockwells qualifications. For example, When developing the Vision Pro, Rockwell believed that Siri could be a central way to control the $3,499 device. Also:Rockwell hasnt been shy about criticizing Siri, according to people familiar with the matter. For years, he has pitched senior vice presidents on ideas for overhauling the voice assistant to make it more personalized.The main reason Im happy about todays news, though, isnt specific to Rockwell himself.I think the best thing about this move is that Siri is finally getting the attention it deserves from a top-tier Apple leader.Siri now has a major Apple leader focused solely on making it the best AI assistant possibleSiris history within Apple has involved being punted from one executive to another.Gurman summarizes the assistants tumultuous leadership:Siri the AI divisions main consumer product has had a number of bosses over the years. When Apple first launched the voice assistant in 2011, it was overseen by software executive Scott Forstall. It was then given to services chief Eddy Cue in 2012 and transferred to the current software head, Federighi, in 2017. Giannandrea took it over a year later. Now it will be led by Rockwell, with oversight returning again to Federighi.Federighi has previously been in charge of Sirifor a mere yearand technically will now have oversight again.But thats not as important as who will now be running Siris team day-to-day within Apple.Mike Rockwell may not have an AI pedigree, but unlike other Siri managers in the past, he is a top leader within Apple. Hes the person who developed and launched major hardware and software platforms for Apple. Rockwell is a big enough name that many outside the company know who he is.And now, hell get to focus all of his time and energy on making Siri the best AI assistant it can be.Rockwells appointment is good news because it shows Apple taking Siri more seriously than it has in a long time.Making Rockwell the new leader represents a big shift in how much the company is valuing and prioritizing Siri.Siri will not only be under the capable oversight of Craig Federighi. It will have a hands-on, dedicated, top-tier Apple leader who has Siri as his singular focus.Will Rockwell prove the right person for the job? Time will tell, but Apple putting such a valuable leader in that role is in itself a very good thing.Best iPhone accessoriesAdd 9to5Mac to your Google News feed. FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.Youre reading 9to5Mac experts who break news about Apple and its surrounding ecosystem, day after day. Be sure to check out our homepage for all the latest news, and follow 9to5Mac on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn to stay in the loop. Dont know where to start? Check out our exclusive stories, reviews, how-tos, and subscribe to our YouTube channel