Meta's Superintelligence Lab poaches four critical AI experts from Apple during Siri's challenges, claims media reports
Apple's AI team has recently faced a significant talent exodus, with top engineers and senior AI researchers departing to join Meta's expanding AI efforts. Among those leaving Apple are Ruoming Pang, the creator of Apple's Foundation Models group, Tom Gunter, Mark Lee, and Bowen Zhang, who previously headed Apple's multimodal systems[1][2][3][4][5].
This talent drain may impact Apple's AI capabilities, making it more challenging for the tech giant to develop and ship key AI-driven features such as improvements to Siri and foundational AI technologies[1][5]. The loss of experienced researchers and engineers, particularly those leading foundational model development, slows Apple's ability to innovate at the pace of competitors.
Industry insiders see Apple's AI progress as lagging partly due to internal secrecy and a slow productization cycle, causing promising work to remain hidden and delayed in impact[1][5]. In contrast, competitors like Meta and OpenAI are aggressively gaining top AI talent, accelerating their AI research and product development[1][2].
Meta's Superintelligence Labs and OpenAI have hired multiple senior AI researchers from Apple, enabling these companies to expand their foundational model capabilities and offerings more rapidly[1][2]. Meta's aggressive financial incentives and openness contrast with Apple's closed ecosystem and traditionally lower pay scales, contributing to the talent outflow[1][3][5].
The departures come just weeks before the iPhone 17 series debuts, raising concerns about the impact on Apple's AI systems, including Siri[6]. Apple is reportedly looking into partnerships with OpenAI and Anthropic to supplement its in-house AI efforts[7].
The report about the departures from Apple's AI team is based on a Bloomberg report citing sources[8]. Apple's Foundation Models team, responsible for developing large language models (LLMs), is reportedly losing top talent to Meta[9]. The team has also faced criticism for the slow progress of Apple Intelligence, the company's AI tool suite[10].
In the face of these developments, it appears that Apple's AI team is currently at a disadvantage compared to more open and better-funded rivals like Meta and OpenAI, potentially affecting Apple's competitiveness in foundational AI research and next-generation AI product innovation over the near term[1][2][5]. Apple may need to increase investment and adjust its strategy to retain top talent and accelerate its AI roadmap.
References:
- Bloomberg
- TechCrunch
- The Information
- VentureBeat
- Wired
- 9to5Mac
- Reuters
- Bloomberg
- The Information
- The Verge
- The talent exodus from Apple's AI team, including top engineers and senior researchers like Ruoming Pang and Tom Gunter, could potentially hinder Apple's ability to develop and implement advanced AI technologies, such as improvements to Siri and foundational AI technologies.
- As Apple's AI rivals, like Meta and OpenAI, are increasingly investing in artificial-intelligence research and development and aggressively recruiting senior AI talent, Apple's slower pace and internal secrecy may put the tech giant at a disadvantage in the race for next-generation AI product innovation.
