Apple's lead AI researcher for robotics, Jian Zhang, has left the company to join Meta's Robotics Studio. Zhang led a team focused on AI's role in automation. His departure follows a series of AI specialists leaving Apple, including members of the Apple Foundation Models team. John Peebles and Nan Du are heading to OpenAI, while Zhao Meng is joining Anthropic. These departures come as Apple considers incorporating external technology to enhance its AI capabilities.
The Apple Foundation Models team, which has experienced significant turnover recently, was crucial in developing the Apple Intelligence platform. This platform was launched last year as part of Apple's effort to catch up in the AI sector. The recent departures add to the challenges faced by Apple in its AI development efforts.
Apple is reportedly exploring potential partnerships with companies like OpenAI, Anthropic, and Google to advance its AI models. The company is also considering acquiring AI firms such as Mistral and Perplexity. These moves suggest a shift towards leveraging external expertise to bolster Apple's AI capabilities.
Subscribe for Weekly Updates
Stay ahead with our weekly AI and tech briefings, delivered every Tuesday.
