Apple has suffered a significant setback in its artificial intelligence ambitions with the departure of Ruoming Pang, the executive who led the company’s Foundation Models team. Pang, whose team developed on-device AI features like Genmoji and smart notifications, has now joined Meta’s elite AI division, Meta Superintelligence Labs (MSL).
His exit underscores Apple’s ongoing internal struggles with its dependence on external partners like OpenAI and Anthropic to upgrade Siri, a move that has sparked concerns within the company known for maintaining end-to-end control of its technology stack.
Meta, under the direct influence of CEO Mark Zuckerberg, has been aggressively recruiting AI talent, including Pang’s deputy Tom Gunter, who also recently left Apple. Meta Superintelligence Labs is led by Alexandr Wang, former Scale AI CEO, and has become a hub for top AI researchers from leading firms such as OpenAI, DeepMind, and Anthropic.
Reports suggest Pang is earning a multimillion-dollar compensation package at Meta, reflecting the intense competition and high stakes involved in attracting AI experts in today’s tech landscape.
Apple’s AI efforts have faced criticism for being underwhelming, with significant updates like the revamped Siri postponed to 2026. Analysts warn that while Apple’s brand loyalty has so far shielded it from customer fallout, its inability to deliver internally developed AI advancements could gradually erode consumer trust. The company’s WWDC 2025 presentation focused more on hardware and third-party AI collaborations, rather than breakthroughs from its own teams—a silence increasingly seen as a troubling sign.
Oversight of Apple’s AI now lies with a fragmented leadership involving Craig Federighi, Mike Rockwell, and a reduced role for AI chief John Giannandrea, while Zhifeng Chen takes over Pang’s team. Analysts remain skeptical that these changes will accelerate progress, especially as rivals like Meta reportedly offer up to $100 million in bonuses to lure top talent. The tech talent war, combined with Apple’s internal challenges, signals a turbulent road ahead for its AI roadmap.