Apple's AI Brain Drain Continues as Key Robotics Researcher Joins Meta

Apple's AI exodus continues with four deflections to the competition - 9to5Mac

It looks like Meta's hiring freeze definitely does not apply to Apple engineers. As reported by Bloomberg, Jian Zhang, Apple's Lead AI Researcher for Robotics, will be joining the Meta Robotics Studio. And he's not the only one leaving. Here are the details. Last month, following a report that said that, despite Meta's hiring freeze, there could be exceptions, Bloomberg reported that the company had poached Frank Chu, "who has led Apple AI teams focused on cloud infrastructure, training and search." Now, the tally just got a bit higher, as Bloomberg reported that Meta has also hired away Jian Zhang, Apple's Lead AI Researcher for Robotics: "Zhang, the robotics researcher, led a small team of academics focused on automation technology and the role of AI in such products. That team has already suffered some turnover, with one of Zhang's reports, Mario Srouji, leaving to run AI products at Archer Aviation Inc. in April." Zhang's departure coincides with Apple's reported loss of three more Foundation Models engineers: John Peebles and Nan Du to OpenAI, and Zhao Meng to Anthropic. Here's Bloomberg on the new departures: "They were all part of an Apple Foundation Models team that has lost roughly 10 members, including its chief, in recent weeks. The group was central to the creation of the Apple Intelligence platform, launched last year as part of the company's bid to catch up in AI." The news comes on the heels of another Bloomberg report that said that "Apple is now discussing internally whether to rely more on outside technology, rather than just homegrown models." Apple is also still considering a splashy acquisition (with names like Mistral and Perplexity in the mix) while it also explores partnerships with OpenAI, Anthropic, and even Google to develop the models needed for the revamped, AI-driven Siri it unveiled at WWDC24 but never brought to market. If you were Tim Cook, how would you stop Apple's brain drain? Let us know in the comments.

Apple Loses Robotics AI Researcher to Meta

Apple's lead artificial intelligence researcher for robotics is leaving the company for Meta, reports Bloomberg. Jian Zhang joined the Meta Robotics Studio on Tuesday. Three additional AI researchers are also leaving Apple's Foundation Models AI team for OpenAI and Anthropic, continuing an exodus that began in July. At least a dozen AI experts have left Apple for Meta, OpenAI, and other companies since January. Meta has been offering AI engineers massive pay packages that other AI companies are not able to compete with. Meta was able to lure Apple's Foundational Models team lead Ruoming Pang with a $200 million pay package. Zhang was developing automation technology and exploring the role of AI in tech products, but his team was separate from the group that is working on creating a robot virtual companion. According to a recent report from Financial Times, industry recruiters see the mass departures from Apple as a "crisis of confidence" around the company's AI future. Apple is continuing to work on a smarter LLM version of Siri that's expected to debut next year, but it had a serious misstep with the delayed Apple Intelligence version of Siri that failed to make it into iOS 18. In an employee meeting in August, software engineering chief Craig Federighi said that Apple has successfully developed a second-generation Siri architecture that will bring major improvements to Siri in 2026. Apple is considering a third-party solution to power Siri's AI capabilities, and has reportedly held discussions with OpenAI, Anthropic, and Google. A final decision hasn't been made as of yet, but Apple's wavering has caused tension within its LLM team. Additional AI team members are said to be actively interviewing for jobs at other companies.

Apple AI researcher for robotics joins Meta in latest exit - The Economic Times

Apple is losing key AI researchers, including Jian Zhang to Meta and others to OpenAI and Anthropic. These exits follow poor response to Apple Intelligence and worsening internal morale. The company may shift to using third-party models. Meanwhile, Meta is investing heavily in robotics and attracting talent with big pay offers.Apple's lead artificial intelligence researcher for robotics has departed the company to join Meta's competing effort, part of an exodus of AI talent from the iPhone maker. The employee, Jian Zhang, joined the Meta Robotics Studio, the social media company confirmed on Tuesday. Separately, three more AI researchers are leaving Apple's in-house large language models team, adding to upheaval in that group, according to people with knowledge of the matter. The latest string of departures -- all taking place over the last week -- includes John Peebles, Nan Du and Zhao Meng, said the people, who asked not to be identified because the moves haven't been announced. They were all part of an Apple Foundation Models team that has lost roughly 10 members, including its chief, in recent weeks. The group was central to the creation of the Apple Intelligence platform, launched last year as part of the company's bid to catch up in AI. Apple is now discussing internally whether to rely more on outside technology, rather than just homegrown models, Bloomberg News has reported. Peebles and Du are heading to OpenAI, while Zhao is joining Anthropic PBC. Many of their colleagues previously defected to Meta, which has enticed workers with staggering pay increases. Ruoming Pang, who ran Apple's models team, left for a multiyear, $200 million package. It hasn't been entirely smooth sailing for Meta, though. Several of the recently hired AI researchers have already quit, according to Wired. Spokespeople for Apple and OpenAI declined to comment on the personnel changes. Anthropic didn't immediately respond to a request for comment. Apple shares briefly dipped to a session low on Tuesday after Bloomberg reported on the moves. The stock was down 1.5% to $228.77 as of 3:08 p.m. in New York. Zhang, the robotics researcher, led a small team of academics focused on automation technology and the role of AI in such products. That team has already suffered some turnover, with one of Zhang's reports, Mario Srouji, leaving to run AI products at Archer Aviation in April. The robotics research group is located within Apple's artificial intelligence and machine learning division. It's separate from the company's robotics product development organization, which was moved to Apple's hardware engineering department earlier this year. Robotics has become a critical piece of Apple's future pipeline, with the company planning a slew of devices. That includes a tabletop machine with a moving screen, as well as a robotic arm for use in retail stores and manufacturing, Bloomberg has reported. Meta, meanwhile, is moving ahead with its own products. In addition to offering smart glasses and AI features, the company is investing heavily in an operating system and underlying hardware components for humanoid robots, Bloomberg reported in February. Zhang will be developing products at the Robotics Studio, which is part of Meta's Reality Labs division. Apple's AI staff departures are expected to continue, with several more employees actively interviewing for jobs at other companies, according to the people. The poor response to Apple Intelligence and the company's potential shift toward using third-party models have contributed to worsening morale, they said.

Apple Loses Lead AI Robotics Researcher To Meta As Talent Wars Intensify, Sparking Concerns Over Apple's AI Future

Companies are increasingly investing in taking leaps when it comes to AI and being the leader in the category. The tech giants are not only focused on bringing innovations but also attracting top talent from other companies to help escalate their ambitious approach to artificial intelligence initiatives. Meta is especially going with a more intense approach, stealing key members of companies like Apple by offering lucrative packages. Recently, we have seen many high-profile departures from Apple's AI team, and just when we thought the tech giant's department had suffered enough prominent employee exits, it lost another lead AI robotics researcher to Meta. There seems to be an ongoing trend of talent wars, as many high-profile members of Apple's AI team have left to join Meta, which offers higher compensation in the more intensified AI race. Now, the Cupertino giant has lost another key figure from its artificial intelligence division, Jian Zhang, who was the company's lead AI researcher, as per a Bloomberg report. The researcher specialized in robotics but has now left for Meta's Robotics Studio. Looking at the past few months alone, Apple lost about a dozen of its AI specialists. In July, three additional members left the Foundation Models AI team of the company to join companies like OpenAI and Anthropic. Meta, however, has specifically targeted Apple's talent pool by offering compensation packages that are higher than the industry standard. By offering lucrative packages, Meta has been able to build its team strongly and push further its AI goals. Meta is clear in its strategy of building its position in AI, and that is to take on the top talent from tech giants that are established in the category and use the seasoned experts to accelerate its AI development, particularly in categories such as automation and robotics. Apple, on the other hand, is in the middle of ramping up its AI initiatives with a major focus on Siri improvements, so the timing of such moves is delicate. With the stream of talent leaving the company, there are questions about maintaining a competitive position in the constantly evolving AI market. While Apple generally keeps things under wraps, its reluctance to reveal its AI vision could end up making the company suffer further in the tug-of-war for AI talent. While Apple has thrived with its well-curated and polished moves in the past, whether or not this strategy is applicable in the rapidly changing field of AI is for Apple to evaluate. The competition is aggressively approaching technology and working hard to position itself as the leading AI company. Maybe it is high time for Apple to rethink its ways to avoid more talent drain, especially with the ongoing recruitment tactics by Meta.

Apple's lead AI researcher for robotics heads to Meta as part of latest exits

Apple's lead artificial intelligence researcher for robotics has departed the company to join Meta Platforms' competing effort, part of an exodus of AI talent from the company. The employee, Jian Zhang, joined the Meta Robotics Studio, the social media company confirmed on Tuesday. Separately, three more AI researchers are leaving Apple's in-house large language models team, adding to upheaval in that group, according to people with knowledge of the matter. The latest string of departures -- all taking place over the last week -- includes John Peebles, Nan Du and Zhao Meng, said the sources, who asked not to be identified because the moves haven't been announced.

Apple's lead AI robotics researcher moves to Meta, three more key researchers depart

Zang will now develop products at the Robotics Studio, which is part of Meta's Reality Labs division. Apple is facing another wave of departures from its artificial intelligence division, with several top researchers leaving for rival companies. The most notable exit is Jian Zhang, Apple's lead AI researcher for robotics, who has joined Meta Platforms Inc.'s Robotics Studio. Zang will now develop products at the Robotics Studio, which is part of Meta's Reality Labs division, reports Bloomberg. At Apple, Zhang led a small robotics research team focused on how AI can improve automation technology. Also read: Google dodges Chrome breakup in antitrust case, but judge demands these changes Zhang's move comes as Apple struggles to keep talent in its AI unit. Over the past week alone, three more researchers from Apple's large language model team have also resigned. John Peebles and Nan Du are heading to OpenAI, while Zhao Meng is joining Anthropic. These exits add to a growing list of departures from Apple's Foundation Models team. Also read: Google debunks reports about Gmail security alarm, assures strong protections Roughly 10 members of the team, including its leader, Ruoming Pang, have left in recent weeks. Pang reportedly accepted a multiyear package worth $200 million to join Meta. While Meta has lured away many of Apple's researchers with high salaries, it has faced its own challenges, with some recent AI hires leaving soon after joining. Still, Meta continues to invest heavily in operating system and hardware components for humanoid robots, alongside its smart glasses and other Reality Labs projects. Meanwhile, Apple is reportedly working on its own future robotics products, including a tabletop device with a moving screen and a robotic arm for use in stores and factories. But with several more Apple AI staff said to be interviewing elsewhere, the company's ability to compete in the fast-moving AI race may be under growing pressure. Also read: Google Pixel 9 Pro Fold price drops by Rs 35,000 on Flipkart: Check deal details here