Apple has suffered a setback in its AI division as Ruoming Pang, the head of its foundation models team, has left to join Meta Platforms. Pang, who managed a team of approximately 100 engineers working on large language models for 'Apple Intelligence' features, is reportedly moving for a lucrative compensation package worth millions annually.
Meta is aggressively pursuing AI talent, and Pang will join their new Superintelligence Labs division. This loss comes as Apple reportedly considered using external AI models, potentially impacting team morale. The departure highlights the intense competition for AI expertise and the challenges Apple faces in retaining key personnel.
Apple's AI strategy is now steered by Craig Federighi and Mike Rockwell, with AI research under John Giannandrea. Pang's exit could trigger further departures from Apple's AI division, intensifying the pressure on the company to remain competitive in the rapidly evolving AI landscape.
