Meta Hires Apple’s AI Star Ruoming Pang in ₹1712 Crore Power Move

Meta’s Massive Offer Flips Silicon Valley Dynamics, Leaves Apple’s AI Team on Shaky Ground

The race for AI dominance just took a bold turn. Ruoming Pang, who once steered Apple’s AI models team, has joined Meta after receiving a ₹1712 crore ($200 million) offer. This massive deal marks one of the most high-value talent acquisitions in the tech industry.

A Key Architect Behind Siri Joins Meta

Pang played a key role at Apple, helping shape Siri and developing on-device intelligence tools. His leadership helped build the backbone of Apple’s AI offerings.

But now, he shifts to Meta, where he will lead its new Superintelligence division, a project focused on building AI systems that push beyond human capabilities.

More Than Just a Job Switch

This isn’t just a high-value job switch. It reflects a deep shift in the power structure of Silicon Valley’s AI landscape. Meta’s offer includes a high base salary, a major signing bonus, and stock that will vest over several years. Most of this package is in Meta equity, designed to lock in Pang for the long term.

Meta’s Offer Raises Eyebrows Across the Industry

While Meta’s CTO downplayed the idea of aggressive poaching, the size of this offer tells a different story. It also fuels claims by the CEO of OpenAI that rival firms are making offers north of $100 million to snatch key talent. Meta seems ready to go even further.

Apple’s Countermove and Internal Tensions

Apple responded by promoting Zhifeng Chen to lead its Foundation Models group. However, insiders suggest that more resignations may follow. The exit of Pang not only disrupts Apple’s AI plans but also signals growing unease within its AI division.

Meta’s Superintelligence Vision Gains Ground

Meta’s move speaks volumes about its vision. The company wants more than just to compete; it wants to lead. Its Superintelligence division now has the momentum and one of the brightest minds in the industry at the helm.

The Billion-Dollar Battle for AI Talent

The shift highlights the ever-increasing importance of top-notch AI-capable professionals. As tech giants fight for leadership, disputes over impressionable talent come to the brink of billions of dollars. The ₹1712 crore jump of Ruoming Pang from Apple to Meta is probably just the beginning of a wider wave that will reshape the frontiers of AI.