Ruoming Pang, the person behind Apple’s core AI models, is heading to Meta. According to a report from Bloomberg, Pang is leaving his role at Apple to join Meta’s growing AI superintelligence division. This is a big win for Meta — and possibly a sign of trouble brewing inside Apple’s AI unit.
Who Is Ruoming Pang and Why Does He Matter?
Pang led the team at Apple that developed the AI foundation models powering Apple Intelligence — the features designed to bring smart, on-device AI to iPhones, iPads, and Macs.
These models are responsible for things like real-time suggestions, improved Siri responses, and more personalized device behavior. But compared to competitors like OpenAI, Anthropic, and even Meta, Apple’s AI has felt a step behind.
That’s where Pang comes in.
He’s known for his work on small, efficient models that run directly on devices — a style of AI that’s becoming more important as users demand more privacy and faster performance without relying on the cloud.
Why He’s Leaving Apple
While there’s no official word from Apple or Pang, sources say his departure might not be an isolated one. In fact, several insiders told Bloomberg that Apple’s AI group has been facing internal challenges — and more exits could be on the way.
Apple has even reportedly considered partnering with outside AI companies (like OpenAI) to help boost its next big Siri update. That’s a surprising shift for a company known for keeping its tech in-house.
Meta’s Big Bet on AI Superintelligence
Ruoming Pang isn’t the first high-profile hire for Meta’s AI dream team — and he won’t be the last.
Over the past few months, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg has quietly brought on AI leaders from companies like:
- Google DeepMind
- OpenAI
- Safe Superintelligence Inc.
This all ties into Meta’s larger vision of building what it calls “AI superintelligence” — a long-term push to develop general-purpose AI that’s faster, smarter, and more useful than anything on the market today.
Zuckerberg wants Meta to lead that race.
What This Means for Apple
Apple’s reputation is built on world-class hardware and a tight ecosystem — but when it comes to AI, it’s been more cautious than bold.
The company only recently unveiled Apple Intelligence, and so far, the response has been mixed. Many users and experts say it’s playing catch-up. That may explain why Apple is now open to integrating third-party AI into its products.
If more senior talent leaves, Apple will need to make some serious moves to stay competitive.
Final Thoughts
Pang’s move to Meta is more than just another job switch — it shows how fast the AI talent wars are heating up. Big tech companies aren’t just competing on features anymore. They’re fighting to hire the brightest minds before someone else does.
Meta is clearly going all-in on AI. Whether Apple can keep up is a story we’ll be watching closely.
Quick Recap
- Ruoming Pang, Apple’s AI modeling lead, is joining Meta.
- He developed the models behind Apple Intelligence.
- His exit points to possible problems inside Apple’s AI team.
- Meta is aggressively hiring AI talent for its superintelligence project.
- The race for AI dominance is becoming a race for talent.