Meta Poaches Apple's Robotics AI Chief Jian Zhang in AI Talent War

Meta Platforms has hired Jian Zhang, Apple's former robotics AI chief, as lead director of its Robotics Studio. Zhang is the seventh Apple AI researcher to join Meta since July, following the departures of other prominent researchers to OpenAI and Anthropic. The move highlights the intense competition for AI talent in Silicon Valley.

Meta Platforms has secured a significant addition to its Robotics Studio with the hiring of Jian Zhang, Apple's former lead AI researcher for robotics. This move marks the seventh Apple AI researcher to join Meta since July, following the departures of other prominent researchers to OpenAI and Anthropic. The hiring of Zhang underscores the intense competition for AI talent in Silicon Valley.

Jian Zhang, who previously led Apple's robotics research team, has joined Meta's Robotics Studio as the lead director. His departure from Apple follows a wave of high-profile AI talent leaving the company, including Ruoming Pang, who joined Meta with a multiyear $200 million package. Other notable departures include John Peebles, Nan Du, and Zhao Meng, who have joined OpenAI and Anthropic PBC [1].

The exodus of AI talent from Apple highlights the growing competition for expertise in the field. Meta has been actively recruiting AI engineers, offering substantial compensation packages to lure top talent. The mass departures have raised concerns about Apple's ability to maintain its competitive edge in AI and have led to a crisis of confidence among industry recruiters [1].

The latest AI talent exodus has also prompted Apple to consider third-party solutions for its AI capabilities. The company is reportedly discussing potential partnerships with OpenAI, Anthropic, and Google to power Siri's AI features, which have faced delays in their development [1].

Apple's stock dipped 1.5% to $228.77 on Tuesday afternoon following the announcement of Zhang's departure and the broader AI talent exodus. The company is currently working on a smarter version of Siri, expected to debut next year, but has faced challenges in delivering on its AI initiatives [2].

References:
[1] https://www.macrumors.com/2025/09/02/apple-ai-robotics-researcher-joins-meta/
[2] https://news.bloomberglaw.com/artificial-intelligence/apple-ai-researcher-for-robotics-joins-meta-in-latest-exit-1