Meta Platforms has recruited a key artificial intelligence executive from Apple, highlighting an intensifying battle for top AI talent that could impede Apple’s ambitious Siri overhaul.
Ke Yang, who was recently tapped to lead Apple’s “Answers, Knowledge and Information” (AKI) initiative, will now join Meta. The AKI team was tasked with transforming Apple’s voice assistant Siri with advanced AI-based search capabilities.
Yang’s departure leaves Apple’s critical AKI project without leadership, casting uncertainty over a core component intended to rejuvenate Siri. Apple had planned to integrate AKI-dependent functionalities into a broader Siri restructuring scheduled for March 2026.
This move follows a pattern of high-profile AI researchers and executives leaving Apple for rival technology firms in recent months. Ruoming Pang, a former leader of Apple’s fundamental models team, also migrated to Meta previously.
Meta has pursued an aggressive recruitment strategy, particularly for its “Superintelligence Labs” division. These hires underscore Meta’s ambition to lead in generalist AI and compete more directly with major players like OpenAI, Google, and Apple.
For Meta, Yang’s addition is expected to boost its technical capabilities across natural language, search, and intelligent assistants. His arrival places significant pressure on Meta to deliver rapid innovation and results from its substantial AI investments.
The continuous loss of talent raises concerns about Apple’s ability to maintain pace with more agile AI competitors. Industry analysts suggest that AI talent is increasingly drawn to companies promising more audacious and immediate futures in artificial intelligence development.