Apple Inc.’s lead artificial intelligence researcher for robotics has left the company for a competing role at Meta Platforms Inc., marking another significant departure of AI talent from the iPhone maker. Jian Zhang, the researcher in question, joined Meta’s Robotics Studio on Tuesday. This move follows news of three more AI researchers exiting Apple’s large language models team, signaling continued upheaval within the division.
- Apple’s lead robotics AI researcher, Jian Zhang, has joined Meta.
- Three additional AI researchers are leaving Apple’s large language models team.
- These departures add to recent turnover in Apple’s AI division, impacting the development of Apple Intelligence.
- Some departing researchers are heading to OpenAI and Anthropic, while others joined Meta with significant pay increases.
- Apple is reportedly considering relying more on external AI technology.
What’s driving this AI talent drain at Apple?
The latest wave of exits, all occurring within the past week, includes John Peebles, Nan Du, and Zhao Meng. These individuals were key contributors to Apple’s Foundation Models team, which has seen about 10 members depart recently, including its leader. This team was instrumental in developing the Apple Intelligence platform, launched last year as Apple sought to bolster its AI capabilities.
Sources indicate that Peebles and Du are moving to OpenAI, while Zhao is joining Anthropic PBC. Many of their former colleagues have already transitioned to Meta, reportedly lured by substantial salary increases. Notably, Ruoming Pang, who previously led Apple’s models team, reportedly secured a multiyear, $200 million compensation package upon his departure.
Even Meta has experienced some internal shifts, with several newly hired AI researchers reportedly leaving the company, according to reports from Wired.
Representatives for Apple and OpenAI declined to comment on the personnel changes. Anthropic did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Apple shares experienced a slight dip, reaching a session low on Tuesday following reports of these movements. The stock was down 1.5% to $228.77 as of 3:08 p.m. in New York.
Jian Zhang, the former robotics researcher, led a specialized team focusing on automation technology and AI’s role in such innovations. This group had already seen some turnover, with one of Zhang’s reports, Mario Srouji, departing in April to lead AI products at Archer Aviation Inc. The robotics research group operates within Apple’s artificial intelligence and machine learning division, separate from the company’s product development efforts for robotics, which were integrated into the hardware engineering department earlier this year.
Robotics is considered a vital component of Apple’s future product strategy. The company is reportedly planning a range of devices, including a tabletop machine with a movable screen and a robotic arm for retail stores and manufacturing.
Meta, meanwhile, is actively developing its own product ecosystem. Beyond smart glasses and AI features, the company is making significant investments in an operating system and hardware for humanoid robots.
Zhang will be contributing to product development at Meta’s Robotics Studio, which falls under the company’s Reality Labs division.
Further AI staff departures from Apple are anticipated, with several employees reportedly in active discussions with other companies. Concerns over the reception of Apple Intelligence and the potential shift toward utilizing third-party AI models are said to be contributing factors to declining morale within the team.
