Meta poaches Apple’s Siri strategist as AI talent war intensifies

In a significant move within the tech industry, Meta has successfully recruited Ke Yang, who was previously at the helm of Apple’s AI models team. Yang, who joined Apple in 2019, played a pivotal role in leading the Answers, Knowledge and Information (AKI) group, which is crucial for the upcoming overhaul of the Siri voice assistant set for March, according to reports from Reuters. A graduate of Carnegie Mellon University, Yang has made a name for himself in the competitive tech landscape. His leadership at Apple involved spearheading the development of AI-driven web search features aimed at enhancing Siri's capabilities. However, his recent transition to Meta Platforms Inc. marks a notable shift in talent, following a trend of high-profile exits from Apple’s AI sector. While neither company has officially commented on Yang's new position, industry analysts see this as a significant development in the ongoing race for AI talent. This move coincides with a broader pattern of Apple’s AI leaders migrating to Meta, with reports indicating that around a dozen members from Apple’s Foundation Models team have left, including its founder Ruoming Pang, who now heads initiatives at Meta’s Superintelligence Labs. The departures, which also include notable figures like Chong Wang and Frank Chu, highlight a period of instability within Apple’s AI operations as the company strives to enhance Siri and bolster its generative AI capabilities. Apple’s AI and Machine Learning group, led by Giannandrea, is working closely with Craig Federighi’s software engineering team in an effort to deepen AI integration across its ecosystem. As competition intensifies with Meta, Google, and OpenAI making rapid advancements, Apple faces the challenge of retaining top AI talent and delivering on the much-anticipated next-generation Siri experience. Yang was instrumental in efforts to evolve Siri into a more sophisticated virtual assistant by incorporating advanced AI technologies akin to those used in systems like ChatGPT. His leadership became even more vital after he took over the entire AKI division, previously led by Robby Walker, reporting directly to John Giannandrea. This recruitment of Yang signals Meta's aggressive push to enhance its AI capabilities, amidst a backdrop of significant changes in leadership and strategy within the AI landscape. The industry will be closely watching how these shifts influence the competition in the coming months.