Meta Platforms has hired Ruoming Pang, the lead of Apple’s foundation models team, to join its new Superintelligence Labs—a major talent coup reported by Reuters, Bloomberg, Wall Street Journal, and other outlets
1. 💰 Big Win for Meta, Big Loss for Apple
Pang managed a ~100-engineer team at Apple working on core AI features like Genmoji and Siri. His move—with a package reportedly worth tens of millions annually—is a significant blow to Apple’s AI engine
2. 🚀 Reinforcing Meta’s AI Ambitions
Meta’s “Superintelligence Labs,” led by former Scale CEO Alexandr Wang, is part of Zuckerberg’s aggressive push to secure elite AI talent—from OpenAI, Anthropic, and Google DeepMind
3. ⚠️ Trouble for Apple’s AI Momentum
Insiders report morale issues within Apple’s AI division—debates over in-house models vs external LLMs—prompted departures, including Pang and his deputy. Apple’s Siri/AI roadmap is already facing delays businesstoday
4. 🌍 War for AI Talent Heats Up
This move highlights the escalating competition for top researchers. Meta’s compensation packages, some reaching $100 million, dwarf typical industry offers
5. 🔄 Could Trigger More Exodus
Pang’s exit may spark further departures from Apple’s foundation models team. Apple has assigned Zhifeng Chen to lead as it restructures under Craig Federighi and Mike Rockwell
✅ Summary
Meta’s recruitment of Ruoming Pang marks a pivotal moment in Silicon Valley’s AI race—signaling Meta’s rising ambitions and exposing vulnerabilities in Apple’s AI strategy and talent retention.
