Apple Loses Two More Senior AI Researchers to Meta

Just a few weeks after poaching Apple’s top AI executive, Ruoming Pang, Meta has now hired two of his subordinates for its new Superintelligence Labs, further straining Apple’s in-house artificial intelligence efforts, Bloomberg reports.

The Talent Exodus

After losing Ruoming Pang, the former head of Apple’s Foundation Models team, to Meta, Apple has once again failed to retain its top AI talent, Mark Lee and Tom Gunter, despite offering raises, and is now facing internal turmoil within its AI teams.

• Ruoming Pang: Previously led Apple’s development of core large language models.
• Mark Lee: Pang’s first recruit at Apple and a key contributor to Apple Intelligence.
• Tom Gunter: One of the senior-most engineers on Apple’s foundational AI team.

Inside Meta’s Superintelligence Labs

To stay competitive with companies like OpenAI and Google, Meta is currently on a hiring spree, attracting seasoned researchers from across the industry. Meta aims to rapidly expand its Superintelligence Labs—an initiative focused on advancing AI systems toward, or even beyond, human-level reasoning.

Apple Feels the Pressure

After failing to retain its top AI talent, Apple is considering a significant strategic shift in its AI efforts. The Cupertino tech giant is reportedly exploring partnerships with external AI companies, including OpenAI and Anthropic.

The company plans to develop two versions of its AI products: one powered by Apple’s in-house models and another by external technologies. A final decision on which approach will underpin “Apple Intelligence” is expected to be made next year.

Broader Industry Implications

Meta’s deep pockets and willingness to outbid rivals in attracting top minds capable of building advanced AI have intensified competition among major tech firms to retain the scarce talent.

How do you think Apple should respond to rising pressure and the ongoing AI talent war? Share your thoughts in the comments below.