Apple has reportedly lost another key executive to Meta, as Ke Yang, the newly appointed head of Apple’s AI web search project, is set to join Meta. Yang had recently taken charge of the Answers, Knowledge and Information (AKI) team, which is central to Apple’s upcoming Siri overhaul scheduled for March 2026, according to Bloomberg. This initiative aims to enhance Siri with ChatGPT-like capabilities, including the ability to pull information from the web. Yang’s departure follows a series of high-profile exits from Apple’s AI division.
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Yang’s move to Meta underscores the intensifying competition for AI talent in Silicon Valley. Meta has been actively recruiting top AI professionals, including several from Apple, as part of its strategy to bolster its AI capabilities.
In response to Yang’s departure, Apple’s AKI team will now report to Benoit Dupin, a deputy to John Giannandrea, Apple’s senior vice president of AI and machine learning. This restructuring reflects Apple’s ongoing efforts to stabilise its AI division amid the recent wave of departures.
Several remaining members of the Apple team anticipate that many more employees will depart in the coming months. Despite these challenges, Apple remains committed to enhancing Siri’s capabilities and competing in the rapidly evolving AI-powered search market.
Yang’s exit is part of a broader trend of talent migration within the tech industry, highlighting the competitive landscape in AI development. As companies like Meta continue to invest heavily in AI, the pressure on firms like Apple to retain and attract top talent intensifies.