Apple Loses Key AI Executive to Meta's Multimillion-Dollar Hiring Spree

[MacRumors]

Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg has been offering AI engineers massive pay packages to poach them from other companies, and a key Apple engineering manager has decided to take the deal, according to Bloomberg.

Ruoming Pang, who manages Apple's foundation models team, is moving from Apple to Meta. He was in charge of a team with approximately 100 employees that work on Apple's large language models. Models developed by Pang's team are used for Apple Intelligence features like email summaries, Priority Notifications, and Genmoji.

Meta lured Pang with a deal worth tens of millions of dollars per year. Meta has also scooped up AI experts from OpenAI, Anthropic, and Scale AI.

Rumors suggest that Apple has been considering relying on technology from Anthropic or OpenAI for a future LLM version of Siri, rather than using the models it has been working on. Those discussions have reportedly impacted the morale of the foundation models team that Pang is leaving. Other engineers on the team are also mulling offers from other companies.

Apple is struggling to catch up to competitors that have more advanced AI features, including Google and Samsung. Earlier this year, Apple delayed the Apple Intelligence Siri features that it had promised at WWDC 2024, and the delay led to a restructuring of its AI teams. Apple's AI efforts are now being overseen by Apple's software chief Craig Federighi and Mike Rockwell, who led Vision Pro development.

Article Link: Apple Loses Key AI Executive to Meta's Multimillion-Dollar Hiring Spree

 

[F23]

Oh Tim, what are you doing my dear boy

 

[MacUserFella]

Meta AI ain’t even all that good

 

[breenmask]

this is turning into an episode of silicon valley

 

[michsu]

That's what you get Apple. You had all the time to make Siri #1..

 

[klasma]

Not only that: “Pang’s departure could be the start of a string of exits from the AFM group, with several engineers telling colleagues they are planning to leave in the near future to Meta or elsewhere, the people said. Tom Gunter, a top deputy to Pang, left Apple last month, Bloomberg reported at the time.”

 

[dongwoo8363]

Meta AI ain’t even all that good

fr what are they going to use AI in Facebook? Better algorithm?

 

[GrassShark]

Considering the state of Apple's AI efforts, it's hard to gauge whether losing high-level members of their team is actually a bad thing or not.

 

[michsu]

that's right GrassssssssssssssssssSharkkkkk!

 

[noraa]

I mean, considering the struggles Apple has been having with its “AI” efforts (and I put AI in quotes, because while LLM’s are certainly artificial they are by no means intelligent), I’m not sure if this is actually a bad thing. A bit of house cleaning might be needed.

 

[Billy_Bob]

Considering the state of Apple's AI efforts, it's hard to gauge whether losing high-level members of their team is actually a bad thing or not.

They aren't leaving the Siri team; they're leaving Apple's R&D effort. I don't imagine competitors are at all interested in hiring Apple's Siri people.

 

[GrassShark]

They aren't leaving the Siri team; they're leaving Apple's R&D effort. I don't imagine competitors are at all interested in hiring Apple's Siri people.

I didn't mention Siri once.

 

[klasma]

fr what are they going to use AI in Facebook? Better algorithm?

From April last year: https://archive.ph/Ue4jP

 

[digimc]

Zuckerberg is poaching AI talent from Apple? That's like an Italian restaurant in Venice poaching chefs from Olive Garden.

 

[europoor]

looking forward to talk about that with the updated siri in 2031 when its out

 

[timber]

So Facebook got bored of VR or whatever and this is the new money sink?

 

[unpopular]

This is great… move to a company whose sole purpose is to sell more stuff we don’t need with money we don’t have. Their contribution to society is net negative. Why waste your talent working on this and not a higher purpose? (Not saying what Apple does is higher purpose, but compared to Meta…?)

 

[coffeemilktea]

Zuck's been acquiring a lot of AI talent lately. At the rate he's going, Meta might be the biggest player in AI in a year or so... kind of a scary thought...

 

[Macalway]

This is pathetic. It's like they are so unsure what to do (Apple)

A sound plan they actually stick to might be worthwhile. This guy is smart jumping that ship.

Kudos. Enjoy your windfall LOL

 

[wyrdness]

If only Apple was a wealthy company and could match the salaries that Meta are offering.

 

[rp2011]

Let it be Apple. Let it be. Use other companies LLM models. Let them continue burning through billions of dollars. This is all going to crash and burn and Apple could get what it wants for pennies on the dollars.

Either way there is nothing that Apple needs that it cannot buy from these other's companies. All the major AI companies are burning through money and need any paying customers it can get to help with their efforts without going under. No one is making money on AI, and getting desperate like Meta has become make it doubly so. Let the morons on Wall Street talk. Remember the lying and trouble Apple got into the last time they panicked chasing AI? Not worth it.

That "winner takes all" race to AGI is nonsense. The sooner everyone realizes this the better.

 

[iObama]

Imagine working at Meta in the year of our Lord 2025.

 

[Flight Plan]

Considering the state of Apple's AI efforts, it's hard to gauge whether losing high-level members of their team is actually a bad thing or not.

I agree. The currently-ongoing move of team members here, there, and thither and yon is just a natural progression. Some team members will choose well, while others will not; even if they choose to stay in their current role. Some companies will likewise choose well, while others will not; and yes, even if they choose to pass up on some team members coming in.

Another thing that will happen from this upheaval is that there will be further identification of team members and their respective effectiveness in their roles. For example, this highly-touted person here might move, and subsequently show themselves to be an underperformer. Or this other person, basically unknown, will step up to fill in a new gap from somebody else having left...and the unknown shows themself to be a superstar.

Upheavals are good. Shakeups are good. I say bring it on!

I mean, considering the struggles Apple has been having with its “AI” efforts (and I put AI in quotes, because while LLM’s are certainly artificial they are by no means intelligent), I’m not sure if this is actually a bad thing. A bit of house cleaning might be needed.

Yep, house cleanings let in fresh air and light, and that often reveals the spiderwebs and rodent droppings. This is a job for Mr. Clean!

They aren't leaving the Siri team; they're leaving Apple's R&D effort. I don't imagine competitors are at all interested in hiring Apple's Siri people.

He didn't mention Siri. But still; Siri has actually improved markedly in the last calendar year. So has Alexa. I'm actually getting real answers from both much more regularly now.

 

[britboyj]

Personally, if I were Meta, Apple is the *last* place I'd be poaching AI anythings from.

 

[dannys1]

Apple is one of the most cash rich companies in the world - i've no idea why they haven't just splashed out on purchasing Anthropic at this point.

Do that - change the privacy policy to match your own and wrap it in macOS and iOS from top to bottom to do anything the user could possibly think of.

iOS can continue to use the on board model for most basic tasks too - as it needs someway to do things offline.