The battle for AI hardware talent has reached a new peak. Paul Meade, the Vice President overseeing Apple's Vision Products Group, is set to leave Cupertino next week to join OpenAI. Meade was the primary executive responsible for the Vision Pro headset and Apple's secretive smart glasses initiative, marking a high-profile loss for the iPhone maker.
OpenAI's Hardware Ambitions
According to Bloomberg, Meade will join OpenAI's hardware division to work on an upcoming family of AI-powered devices. He joins a growing contingent of Apple alumni, including Jony Ive, Tang Tan, and Evans Hankey. This team stems from an AI hardware startup that OpenAI acquired last year for $6.5 billion, as reported by Benzinga.Apple's Spatial Computing Struggles
Meade's departure comes at a critical juncture. Wccftech notes that the Vision Pro has struggled to gain mainstream traction, while Apple's smart glasses are not expected to launch until late 2027. Furthermore, full AR glasses may be pushed back as far as 2028 or 2029, potentially making OpenAI's agile approach more attractive to top talent.Leadership Shift in Cupertino
In terms of internal restructuring, MacRumors reports that Fletcher Rothkopf, who currently leads product design for the Vision Pro and smart glasses, will take over Meade's responsibilities. This move suggests Apple is attempting to stabilize its hardware roadmap while recalibrating around the broader AI shift.OpenAI's aggressive hiring strategy underscores Sam Altman's vision of creating a physical interface for AI that could potentially disrupt the current smartphone and wearable paradigms.