Apple loses another AI exec to Meta in what’s becoming a worrying trend for the iPhone maker’s artificial intelligence division. According to a Bloomberg report, Ke Yang, who led Apple’s efforts to build AI-driven web search, is leaving to join Meta.
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This latest move adds to a growing list of Apple’s AI leaders heading to Mark Zuckerberg’s company, deepening concerns over Apple’s ability to keep pace in the rapidly evolving AI race.
Another Key AI Leader Departs Apple
Yang’s exit is just the latest in a series of departures from Apple’s AI and machine learning (AIML) division. Earlier this year, Ruoming Pang, Apple’s former head of AI models, also left for Meta. Reports suggest that roughly a dozen members of Apple’s AIML team have moved on—several of them joining Meta’s new Superintelligence Labs.
The timing couldn’t be worse for Apple. The company is preparing for a major Siri overhaul, set to debut in March, designed to bring smarter, more conversational AI capabilities to users.
Inside Apple’s Struggle To Keep AI Talent
Just weeks before her departure, Ke Yang was overseeing Apple’s Answers, Knowledge, and Information (AKI) team. This group is responsible for improving Siri’s ability to fetch real-time web data, giving it a chance to compete with powerful AI search tools from OpenAI, Google, and Perplexity.
The revamped Siri aims to go beyond simple commands—tapping into personal data and context to perform more complex tasks. But with key leaders leaving for competitors, Apple’s vision for an AI-powered future could be at risk.
Meta’s Growing Appeal To AI Talent
Meta’s new Superintelligence Labs has become a magnet for AI experts. The company is aggressively hiring talent to strengthen its position in the AI race, focusing on large language models and next-generation AI assistants that could challenge ChatGPT and Gemini.
Bloomberg reports that Apple employees expect more departures from the AIML team in the coming months as Meta and other tech giants ramp up their AI recruitment.
Apple’s Next Steps In The AI Battle
Apple is still betting big on its AI future. CEO Tim Cook has hinted that AI-powered features will be deeply integrated into the next iPhone lineup and macOS updates. The company also plans to unveil more details about its on-device AI strategy in 2025, focusing on privacy and seamless integration rather than pure scale.
However, the string of high-profile exits raises questions about Apple’s internal culture and whether it can retain the kind of talent needed to compete with Meta, Google, and OpenAI.
As Apple loses another AI exec to Meta, the competitive landscape of AI innovation continues to shift. With Meta building momentum and Apple racing to modernize Siri, the next few months will reveal whether Cupertino can keep its AI ambitions on track—or risk falling behind in one of tech’s most crucial battles.
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