Meta hires Apple’s AI chief Ruoming Pang: Report

Meta has hired Ruoming Pang, Apple’s head of AI models, as CEO Mark Zuckerberg makes aggressive efforts to strengthen the company’s AI superintelligence unit, reports Bloomberg. 

Pang led Apple’s team responsible for developing the AI foundation models that power Apple Intelligence and other on-device AI features. His exit comes at a time when the iPhone maker’s AI efforts have lagged behind rivals such as OpenAI, Anthropic, and Meta. Multiple reports indicate that Apple has even considered using third-party models to upgrade its AI-powered Siri.

The Bloomberg report further notes that Pang’s departure could be the first of several exits from Apple’s AI division.

At Meta, Pang is expected to bring his expertise in building small AI models for on-device use. 

Meta has reportedly been targeting top talent as competition intensifies in AI, triggering a hiring war of sorts—with OpenAI researchers being high on its target list.

Recent reports indicate that the firm has hired eight staffers from OpenAI over the past two weeks to bolster its AI push. In response, OpenAI leadership is said to be reassuring employees that the company is actively working to retain its talent and push back against Meta’s aggressive hiring spree.

According to a report by Wired, OpenAI’s Chief Research Officer, Mark Chen, sent a memo to the staff last week, vowing to take steps to counter Meta’s talent poaching.