Apple is facing another wave of departures from its artificial intelligence division, with several top researchers leaving for rival companies. The most notable exit is Jian Zhang, Apple’s lead AI researcher for robotics, who has joined Meta Platforms Inc.’s Robotics Studio.
Zang will now develop products at the Robotics Studio, which is part of Meta’s Reality Labs division, reports Bloomberg. At Apple, Zhang led a small robotics research team focused on how AI can improve automation technology.
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Zhang’s move comes as Apple struggles to keep talent in its AI unit. Over the past week alone, three more researchers from Apple’s large language model team have also resigned. John Peebles and Nan Du are heading to OpenAI, while Zhao Meng is joining Anthropic. These exits add to a growing list of departures from Apple’s Foundation Models team.
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Roughly 10 members of the team, including its leader, Ruoming Pang, have left in recent weeks. Pang reportedly accepted a multiyear package worth $200 million to join Meta.
While Meta has lured away many of Apple’s researchers with high salaries, it has faced its own challenges, with some recent AI hires leaving soon after joining. Still, Meta continues to invest heavily in operating system and hardware components for humanoid robots, alongside its smart glasses and other Reality Labs projects.
Meanwhile, Apple is reportedly working on its own future robotics products, including a tabletop device with a moving screen and a robotic arm for use in stores and factories. But with several more Apple AI staff said to be interviewing elsewhere, the company’s ability to compete in the fast-moving AI race may be under growing pressure.
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