Apple is currently experiencing an unusually high brain drain in the field of artificial intelligence. The departure of Jian Zhang, a leading robotics researcher, is particularly in focus. He is leaving the company to join Meta. Several other members of Apple's Foundation Models AI team have also left, causing a stir in the industry and raising questions about the company's AI strategy.
While competitors like Meta, OpenAI, and Anthropic attract talent with high salaries and clear research plans, Apple is struggling with internal delays and a growing crisis of confidence. Its long-term direction regarding AI is unclear, and many insiders consider the development of Siri to be emblematic of the current difficulties.
Jian Zhang leaves Apple
Jian Zhang, one of Apple's leading AI robotics researchers, has moved to Meta. According to Bloomberg, he joined the Meta Robotics Studio on Tuesday. Zhang worked at Apple on automation technologies and investigated the use of AI in technology products. His team was separate from the group working on a virtual robot companion.
Further departures from the Foundation Models AI team
Zhang isn't the only casualty. Three other researchers from Apple's Foundation Models AI team have also resigned and moved to OpenAI and Anthropic. This continues a wave of departures that began in July. Since January, at least a dozen AI experts have left Apple, many for Meta, OpenAI, and other competitors.
Meta attracts with high salaries
A key reason for the exodus is Meta's aggressive recruiting approach. The company offers AI engineers salary packages that other companies can hardly match. This was particularly evident in the departure of Ruoming Pang, the head of Apple's Foundation Models team. Meta reportedly persuaded him with a salary package worth around $200 million.
Crisis of confidence at Apple
Industry insiders see the numerous departures not just as a reaction to high salaries, but as a crisis of confidence. According to a report in the Financial Times, the uncertain future of Apple's AI strategy has unsettled many professionals. Development of an improved version of Siri recently stalled: The so-called Apple Intelligence version didn't make it into iOS 18.
Siri as a touchstone
Despite setbacks, Apple is working on a new generation of Siri. At an internal staff meeting in August, Craig Federighi, head of software development, announced that a second-generation architecture had already been successfully developed. This architecture is expected to make Siri significantly more powerful starting in 2026. An enhanced version of Siri based on large language models is also planned for 2025.
Discussions with third parties
To strengthen its AI capabilities, Apple is also considering external solutions. The company has reportedly held talks with OpenAI, Anthropic, and Google. A final decision has not yet been made. However, the hesitation is causing tension within the LLM team, and other employees are said to be actively applying to other companies.
Apple between uncertainty and a new start in the AI sector
The departures of Jian Zhang, Ruoming Pang, and other AI experts clearly demonstrate that Apple is under pressure in the field of artificial intelligence. Meta is setting new standards with high salaries, while OpenAI and Anthropic continue to gain influence. Apple, on the other hand, needs to find a clear direction to retain talent and regain trust. Whether the next generation of Siri and potential partnerships with third-party developers will be enough to dispel these doubts remains to be seen in the coming years. (Image: Shutterstock / SnapASkyline)
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