Ruoming Pang quits Apple to join Meta's AI venture: Will it trigger more exits from Apple's AI models team?
Meta didn't just lure Pang with ambition for developing AI models. They reportedly offered him a package worth tens of millions per year. The company is pulling in top AI minds from rivals like OpenAI and Anthropic too with Mark Zuckerberg personally involved in recruiting, even hosting interviews at his home.
Ruoming Pang's exit signals trouble at Apple's AI division
Pang was overseeing around 100 people at Apple, working on models powering features like Genmoji, Priority Notifications, and the upgraded Siri. But all hasn't been smooth. Internally, Apple has been debating whether to continue building its own models or use outside ones from OpenAI or Anthropic.
Zuck just poached another Chinese AI star.Ruoming Pang, who led Apple's Foundation Models team, is joining Meta's Superintelligence team.Wild that Apple has ~100 people working on 'Apple Intelligence' like Genmoji.What's stopping Apple from poaching AI talent like Zuck? pic.twitter.com/nFgDnkmL5K
That shift in strategy reportedly affected morale in Pang's team, known as the Apple Foundation Models (AFM) group. Some engineers have already hinted they're planning to leave. Pang's deputy, Tom Gunter, left just last month. Now that Pang is gone too, a bigger wave of exits might follow.
Meta wants to dominate the AI race
Meta has made it clear that AI is its top focus. It's investing tens of billions this year in AI infrastructure and hiring. The company recently reorganised its AI units to focus on what it calls 'superintelligence', a form of AI that can outperform humans at certain tasks.
THE AI FREE AGENCY CONTINUES$META just poached $AAPL top AI exec, Ruoming Pang, for its new AI Superintelligence division 😳 pic.twitter.com/rkf532tpcd
Zuckerberg has already hired big names like Alexandr Wang from Scale AI and several researchers from OpenAI and Anthropic. Meta's offers are far higher than what most companies, including Apple, currently pay.
What's next for Apple's AI efforts?
After Pang's exit, Apple's AFM team will now be led by Zhifeng Chen. Instead of Pang's flat structure, Apple is now switching to a more layered format with several managers below Chen.
Meanwhile, Apple's AI strategy is now mostly in the hands of Craig Federighi and Mike Rockwell. John Giannandrea, who used to lead the AI effort, has been moved away from Siri and other key projects.
In June, Apple unveiled its AI features at WWDC. But most of the spotlight went to partners like OpenAI and Google, not Apple's in-house work. Now with Pang gone and other engineers potentially following, Apple's AI journey looks even harder.
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