Apple Hit Hard as Lead AI Robotics Researcher Defects to Meta

The tug-of-war for AI talent between Silicon Valley’s biggest players has reached a new peak, and this time Apple is the one feeling the sting. According to Bloomberg, Jian Zhang, Apple’s lead AI robotics researcher, has officially left Cupertino to join Meta’s Robotics Studio.

Zhang was one of Apple’s key experts in applied robotics and artificial intelligence, making his departure another blow to Apple’s already shrinking AI team.

This latest move highlights a broader trend: Meta is aggressively luring top minds away from Apple and other rivals with compensation packages that are often far above industry standards. While Apple is known for paying its senior researchers well – salaries can reach upwards of $360,000 annually with stock and benefits – Meta is said to offer deals starting in the $1 to $2 million range for senior AI hires. That gap is proving hard for Apple to counter, especially in a market where AI talent is in shorter supply than ever.

Over the past few months, Apple has lost more than a dozen researchers from its AI divisions, including multiple members of its Foundation Models team, who left for AI powerhouses such as OpenAI and Anthropic. But Meta’s focus has been particularly sharp: its recruitment efforts are strategically aimed at robotics, automation, and areas where Apple has been quietly building expertise. With Zhang now heading to Meta’s Robotics Studio, Meta not only secures a proven researcher but also weakens Apple’s pipeline of AI robotics innovation.

Meta’s strategy is transparent – build dominance in AI by outspending rivals and consolidating expertise. CEO Mark Zuckerberg has shown he’s willing to pour billions into both hardware and software research, creating what some critics call an AI “arms race.” The company’s willingness to pay top dollar for experts has made it one of the most attractive destinations for researchers who want both financial rewards and the freedom to push ambitious projects forward. Apple, meanwhile, has traditionally relied on secrecy, careful long-term planning, and incremental rollouts. That approach has worked for iPhones and Macs, but AI is moving at breakneck speed, and critics are questioning whether Apple can keep up without showing its hand or matching rivals in pay.

The timing could not be worse for Apple. The company is currently ramping up work to overhaul Siri, which has fallen behind competitors like Google Assistant and ChatGPT-powered solutions. Losing senior researchers during this critical moment raises doubts about whether Apple can deliver a next-generation Siri that feels genuinely competitive in the AI-first era. More broadly, the talent exodus signals that Apple’s low-profile approach to AI may no longer be sustainable. While secrecy and polish have long been Apple’s trademarks, in the fast-changing AI field, failing to reveal a bold vision risks making the company look like a laggard to both investors and researchers.

In short, Meta is playing offense in the AI talent wars, and Apple is on the defensive. Unless Apple adapts – whether through more competitive pay, a clearer vision for AI, or structural changes to retain researchers – the company may continue bleeding expertise to rivals. And in a race where talent is the most precious currency, that could prove a serious handicap in defining the future of robotics, automation, and consumer-facing AI.