Apple loses another AI exec to Meta

In a surprising move, Ke Yang, who was leading Apple's initiatives in AI-driven web search, has decided to join Meta, as reported by Bloomberg. This transition highlights a troubling trend for Apple, as it grapples with a series of departures from its AI division, just as it gears up for a significant overhaul of Siri scheduled for March. Yang's exit adds to the list of notable departures from Apple's AI unit, which includes Rouming Pang, the former head of AI models, who also made the switch to Meta earlier this year. In total, approximately a dozen members from Apple's AIML (AI and machine learning) team have left, with several of them now contributing to Meta's newly established Superintelligence Labs. Recently, Yang took charge of the Answers, Knowledge, and Information (AKI) team, which plays a critical role in enhancing Siri's capabilities by integrating web-sourced information. This strategic move is essential for Apple as it seeks to bolster its competitive stance against rivals in the AI search domain, including OpenAI, Perplexity, and Google. The revamped Siri aims to utilize personal data for executing more intricate tasks. According to Bloomberg, the remaining members of Apple's AI team are bracing for further departures in the upcoming months. TechCrunch has reached out to both Apple and Meta for their perspectives on this developing situation.