New Delhi: Apple is experiencing a strange trend of employee turnover where dozens of its engineers and designers are moving to OpenAI. The relocation is at a moment when OpenAI is readying its initial hardware product, a project that has unobtrusively gathered some of the most seasoned expertise of Apple. A good number of these employees have worked on the core functionality of the iPhone, AirPods, Apple Watch, and even the robotics activities of Apple.
The movement is enhancing industry speculation regarding the long-term industry strategy at Apple. As some of its senior executives have decided to retire, and competitors have started to invest strongly in the next generation of technology, Apple is currently under the pressure to keep top talent and reassure the investors on its path.
Why Apple employees are leaving
According to the Wall Street Journal, numerous former members of the Apple staff that left within recent months joined OpenAI. Their experience is impressive; they worked as audio engineers, industrial designers and specialists in the field of robotics and worked on some of the most significant products at Apple. The next hardware product of OpenAI, which should be introduced next year, is considered an essential attraction factor.
Leadership changes add to uncertainty
The executive levels of Apple are also changing. In its own AI and wearable ventures, Apple has recently recruited several of their former staff, including long-time design head Alan Dye, to join the team at Meta. Three top executives of the company also retired, including Kate Adams, Lisa Jackson, and John Giannandrea, the head of AI programmes.
In the first half of the year, Apple lost two of its senior-most staff: Chief Operating Officer Jeff Williams and Chief Financial Officer Luca Maestri. The speculation has also been aided by rumours of the possibility of CEO Tim Cook retiring next year, but Apple has not confirmed such a move.
As AI turns out to be the next major contention on the technological front, the buzz and the trend seem to be moving towards firms such as OpenAI. In the case of Apple, the mission now is evident: retain the global talent and regain its leadership in a rapidly shifting AI-first innovation industry.