Meta reportedly recruits Apple’s head of AI models

In a significant development poised to reshape the artificial intelligence landscape, Meta Platforms, Inc. has reportedly secured the talents of Ruoming Pang, Apple’s distinguished head of AI models. This strategic recruitment, initially brought to light by Bloomberg, marks the latest high-profile executive scooped up by Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg for his ambitious new AI superintelligence unit.

Pang previously led Apple’s in-house team dedicated to training the foundational AI models that underpin Apple Intelligence and various other on-device AI functionalities. His role was crucial in developing the core AI capabilities that define Apple’s foray into intelligent features. However, Apple’s current AI models have frequently been noted as less capable when compared to offerings from industry leaders such as OpenAI, Anthropic, and even Meta. There have even been reports suggesting that Apple is considering integrating third-party AI models, including those from Anthropic and OpenAI, to power its upcoming AI-enabled Siri upgrade.

Sources familiar with the matter suggest that Pang’s departure could be indicative of broader challenges and potentially the first of several high-profile exits from Apple’s beleaguered AI division. This move underscores the fierce competition for top-tier AI talent and the continuous pressures companies face to innovate and keep pace within the rapidly evolving AI domain.

For Meta, the acquisition of Pang represents a significant win. He is expected to contribute invaluable expertise in designing small, efficient on-device AI models—a critical area for Meta’s future AI strategies. His recruitment further strengthens a growing roster of elite AI professionals that Zuckerberg has attracted in recent months, including prominent leaders from Google DeepMind, OpenAI, and Safe Superintelligence, solidifying Meta’s intent to be a dominant force in cutting-edge artificial intelligence research and deployment.