Apple loses its Siri strategist to Meta
What's the story
In a major development, tech giant Meta has hired Ke Yang, who led Apple's AI models team. Yang's LinkedIn profile shows he has been with Apple since 2019. He was recently appointed as the head of a team called Answers, Knowledge and Information (AKI), which is key to the planned overhaul of Siri voice assistant.
Career highlights
Yang's role and significance of his move
A Carnegie Mellon University graduate, Yang has been instrumental in shaping the tech landscape. At Apple, he led the development of AI-powered web search capabilities aimed at enhancing Siri's sophistication. His exit from Apple to join Meta is seen as a major shift in the company's talent and strategy, amid a series of high-profile departures from its AI division.
Departure trend
Who else has jumped ship?
Yang's exit comes as Apple faces a wave of departures from its AI division. According to Bloomberg, around a dozen members of Apple's Foundation Models team have left, including its founder and lead scientist, Ruoming Pang. Other notable exits include Chong Wang, who left earlier this month for Meta, and Frank Chu, another former Apple AI leader who joined Meta in August.
AI challenges
Apple's AI challenge
The string of departures highlights a challenging phase for Apple's AI efforts as it seeks to revamp Siri and bolster its generative AI capabilities. The collaboration between Apple's AI and Machine Learning group (AIML), led by John Giannandrea, and Craig Federighi's software engineering team shows a renewed focus on integrating AI into its ecosystem. However, with Meta, Google, and OpenAI making strides in the field, Apple faces the challenge of keeping top-tier talent and delivering an improved Siri experience.