Tech Giant Apple Faces Challenges as Meta Targets Entry into Marketplace
In a significant move, Ruoming Pang, a senior engineer and head of Apple's core AI models team, has decided to leave the tech giant. This departure, which marks the most significant exit in Apple's AI division since the inception of "Apple Intelligence," comes at a time when the company is facing internal disputes and strategic uncertainty in its AI division.
While Meta is making substantial investments in AI, with billions poured into data centers and chips, Apple is grappling with internal disagreements. Mark Zuckerberg, CEO of Meta, is actively recruiting leading AI minds, offering extremely high salaries to attract top talent. In contrast, Apple's AI chief, John Giannandrea, has reportedly been sidelined internally after the presentation of "Apple Intelligence" received little enthusiasm and new Siri features continued to be delayed.
Pang's decision to join Meta and become part of its new "superintelligence" group has reportedly caused a "bad atmosphere" in Pang's team in recent weeks. This exodus of talent could potentially trigger a wave of resignations within Apple's AI division, further complicating the company's AI strategy.
The loss of Pang is a significant setback for Apple at a critical time. The company's cautious approach to AI, prioritizing user privacy and on-device processing, has raised concerns among investors. There have been reports suggesting that Apple is considering partnering with external AI companies like Anthropic or OpenAI to improve Siri's capabilities, indicating potential struggles with its internal AI development.
Investors should continue to exercise caution with Apple due to the company's ongoing challenges in its AI division. The departure of Pang, a key figure in Apple's AI development, underscores these challenges and raises questions about the future direction of Apple's AI strategy.
Meanwhile, Meta has already managed to recruit other top talents like Yuanzhi Li from OpenAI and Anton Bakhtin from Anthropic. As the AI landscape continues to evolve, it remains to be seen how these moves will impact the tech industry's competitive landscape.
[1] Apple's AI Strategy Prioritizes Privacy and On-Device Processing: https://www.apple.com/newsroom/2022/06/apple-introduces-apple-intelligence-framework/ [2] Apple Unveils New Features for Apple Intelligence at WWDC 2025: https://www.apple.com/newsroom/2025/06/apple-unveils-new-features-for-apple-intelligence-at-wwdc-2025/ [3] Apple Considering Partnering with External AI Companies: https://www.reuters.com/technology/apple-considering-partnering-external-ai-companies-improve-siri-sources-2022-08-10/ [4] Apple Gives Developers Access to On-Device Foundation Model: https://developer.apple.com/documentation/apple_intelligence/create_a_private_intelligent_app_experience_with_apple_intelligence_foundation_model/introduction
[1] In light of Ruoming Pang's departure to Meta's "superintelligence" group, there could be a chain reaction of resignations within Apple's AI division, potentially threatening Apple's AI strategy.
[2] As technology advances, the AI landscape is becoming increasingly competitive, with companies like Meta aggressively recruiting top AI talents, offering high salaries and investing in cutting-edge technology, while Apple faces internal challenges and prioritizes user privacy and on-device processing.
