Meta Recruits Another Top AI Expert, This Time, From Apple

Meta has reportedly hired Ruoming Pang, Apple’s head of AI models, to form part of its AI superintelligence team. 

The report, published by Bloomberg on Monday, confirms Pang’s departure from Apple. This is yet another high-profile hire by Meta as it continues to gather top AI talent across the industry.

Pang previously led the team at Apple responsible for developing AI foundation models. These models support Apple Intelligence and other on-device AI features, including Siri.

Meta’s AI Superintelligence Team

Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg has been actively recruiting top AI researchers and engineers to build out Meta’s AI superintelligence unit. 

In recent months, the company has attracted talent from major AI companies such as Google DeepMind, OpenAI, and Safe Superintelligence.

With the addition of Pang, Meta’s efforts towards next-generation AI development might pay off.

Pang’s Expertise

At Apple, Pang worked on compact, on-device AI systems. These models process data directly on a user’s device and provide faster responses and improved privacy. 

While efficient, Apple’s AI models have not gained strong praise in the AI community. Critics argue they remain less capable than models developed by OpenAI, Anthropic, and even Meta itself.

In fact, reports suggest Apple has considered using third-party AI models to enhance future versions of Siri. This indicates a lack of confidence in its current in-house models.

By joining Meta, Pang brings deep knowledge of lightweight AI systems. His experience could help Meta create faster and more efficient models.

Signs Of Trouble Inside Apple’s AI Unit

According to Bloomberg, Pang’s exit may signal broader issues within Apple’s AI division. Sources say he might be the first of many key engineers to leave. 

While Apple has announced several AI features in recent months, including its Apple Intelligence platform, these updates have not generated the same level of excitement seen with other AI companies.

The company’s AI tools remain less advanced in comparison. This may explain why some engineers are seeking new opportunities elsewhere.

Meta’s AI Ambition

Mark Zuckerberg has outlined Meta’s goal to develop Artificial General Intelligence (AGI),  AI that can reason, learn, and act with flexibility, much like a human. 

Achieving that will require both powerful technology and a strong team.

Pang’s background fits that goal. His work on small, fast AI models may help Meta improve the speed and efficiency of its systems. 

In combination with Meta’s existing large-scale model research, this could allow the company to build more advanced and responsive tools.