Apple is still losing its top AI researchers to Meta and Google
Bloomberg reported that Apple's decision to outsource its AI systems has sparked employee discontent, leading to a stream of talent exodus from the company. Around January 2026 alone, four prominent employees moved to Google's AI research companies, DeepMind and Meta.
Apple Faces AI Talent Exodus as Top Siri Leader Joins Google DeepMind - Bloomberg
Some AI researchers left Apple but Siri's big upgrade moves on
https://appleinsider.com/articles/26/01/30/some-ai-researchers-have-left-apple-but-that-wont-affect-siris-big-upgrade
According to anonymous sources who spoke to Bloomberg, Apple has lost the top executive developing its AI assistant, Siri, as well as at least four AI researchers.
Sources said that Apple's Yu Haoxuan and Wang Bailin have moved to Meta, Wang Jirui has joined DeepMind to help build core AI models that support Apple's new features, and Yang Yingfei is planning to leave Apple to found a new company.
In parallel with these developments, Stuart Bowers, a senior executive at Siri, reportedly left Apple for Google and began working on Gemini. Bowers was previously the head of Apple's failed self-driving car project, and later worked on Siri's development, helping it understand how to respond to users.
Bloomberg reported, 'These departures highlight the turmoil within Apple's AI division. The company is lagging behind in the AI race, and its decision to outsource some of its technology to Google has sparked employee discontent. The company has been plagued by a talent exodus in recent months, particularly in the AI field.'
In 2024, Apple announced its personal AI, Apple Intelligence , and entered the AI race. However, unlike other companies, it failed to achieve results by developing its own models, and instead took a shocking turn by relying on its rival Google for help.
Apple signs multi-year deal to use Google's Gemini, Elon Musk criticizes 'unfair concentration of power' - GIGAZINE
This agreement will see the development of next-generation Apple Intelligence based on Gemini, and will also see the next-generation Siri, scheduled for release in 2026, being equipped with Gemini.
Meanwhile, some have pointed out that much of Apple's internal operations are supported by Anthropic. According to Bloomberg reporter Mark Gurman, while Apple has partnered with Gemini for Siri, it runs a custom version of Claude on its internal servers and uses it for business purposes. Gurman reported, 'Apple originally intended to use Anthropic's Claude to build Siri, but the deal fell through after Anthropic demanded a hefty fee.'
Bloomberg's @markgurman says that even though Apple partnered with Google Gemini for Siri, they actually run their business on Anthropic.
— TBPN (@tbpn) January 29, 2026
'Apple runs on Anthropic at this point. Anthropic is powering a lot of the stuff Apple's doing internally in terms of product development and… pic.twitter.com/NpW0Pyj03J
At the time of writing, Apple's AI division is overseen by Amar Subramaniyah, a former Google and Microsoft executive. Under Subramaniyah, Apple is reportedly working on two new versions of Siri: one is a short-term update that uses personal data to answer questions, and the other is an ambitious, major update centered around a chatbot-style interface.
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