Apple Losing Talent: Four AI researchers, top Siri leader depart

Apple’s artificial intelligence division is experiencing a significant talent exodus, with at least four more AI researchers and a senior executive from its Siri team departing in recent weeks.

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According to a Bloomberg report published on January 30, 2026, the latest departures include researchers Yinfei Yang, Haoxuan You, Bailin Wang, and Zirui Wang. These departures pose challenges for Apple’s AI initiatives, particularly as the company strives to enhance features like Siri and its broader Apple Intelligence platform.

Here’s a breakdown of the researchers’ moves:

• Yinfei Yang founded a new company.

• Haoxuan You and Bailin Wang joined Meta Platforms Inc.

• You joined Meta’s Superintelligence research arm.

• Bailin Wang is working on Meta recommendations.

These details are based on information from people familiar with the matter, as reported by Gurman. However, Gurman requested anonymity because the moves haven’t been officially announced.

In a related departure, Stuart Bowers, one of Apple’s most senior executives working on Siri, left for Google DeepMind. Bowers’ role at Apple expanded last year and he reported to Siri chief Mike Rockwell. He had also previously worked on Apple’s now-defunct self-driving car project.

Gurman emphasizes that these staffers are joining competitors like Meta Platforms Inc. and Google DeepMind, highlighting the intense competition for AI expertise in the industry. These departures reflect ongoing challenges within Apple’s AI division, where the company has struggled to keep pace with rivals in generative AI and has relied heavily on external partnerships, including with Alphabet Inc. subsidiary Google.

This latest wave of exits contributes to a broader trend of talent movement away from Apple’s AI and machine learning teams in recent times. This trend is driven by Apple’s efforts to enhance Siri and develop more advanced on-device and cloud-based AI capabilities.

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Dan Uff

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