Apple’s AI brain drain continues as more researchers and a senior Siri executive exit for rivals

Apple

• Apple loses at least four more AI researchers and a senior Siri executive
• Departures include staff joining Meta and Google DeepMind, key AI collaborators
• Apple's AI team morale and competitiveness questioned after leadership changes

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Apple is facing further disruption inside its artificial intelligence and Siri teams, with a new report pointing to another wave of high-profile departures. According to Bloomberg reporter Mark Gurman, Apple has lost at least four more AI researchers in recent weeks, alongside a senior executive closely tied to Siri’s development.

The report says the latest exits include Yinfei Yang, Haoxuan You, Bailin Wang, and Zirui Wang. Yang has reportedly left Apple to start a new company, while You and Bailin Wang have joined Meta. You is said to be working within Meta’s Superintelligence research arm, while Bailin Wang has moved into the company’s recommendations team. These moves have not been publicly announced, with sources speaking on condition of anonymity.

Zirui Wang, meanwhile, has departed Apple to join Google DeepMind. That move is particularly notable given that DeepMind is currently collaborating with Apple on the core AI models underpinning new features planned for iOS and other platforms. Those efforts include technology expected to support an upgraded version of Siri, which Apple has said will roll out later this year.

The situation becomes more awkward for Apple when viewed alongside another key departure. Stuart Bowers, described by Gurman as one of Apple’s most senior executives working on Siri, has also left the company for Google DeepMind. Bowers’ responsibilities at Apple were expanded last year, and he reported directly to Siri chief Mike Rockwell. Prior to his work on Siri, Bowers was involved in Apple’s now-cancelled self-driving car project.

There is a degree of irony in Bowers’ move. At Google DeepMind, he will be working on the Gemini models that Apple itself is relying on as part of its next-generation Siri strategy. In effect, a former Siri leader is now contributing to the same AI technology Apple plans to integrate into its own assistant.

These departures come against the backdrop of significant internal changes within Apple’s AI leadership. Over the past year, the company has reorganised its artificial intelligence and machine learning teams multiple times in an effort to sharpen focus and improve execution. The most visible change came in December, when John Giannandrea stepped down from his role as senior vice president of Machine Learning and AI Strategy. Giannandrea is expected to remain at Apple in an advisory capacity until spring 2026 before retiring.

Taken together, the steady flow of talent leaving Apple raises questions about morale, direction, and competitiveness within its AI organisation. While Apple continues to stress privacy, on-device processing, and careful product integration, rivals are moving aggressively, offering researchers broader scope, faster deployment, and in some cases, more freedom to publish and experiment.

Apple has not publicly commented on the latest departures. However, as artificial intelligence becomes increasingly central to the company’s platform strategy, especially with Siri under renewed scrutiny, the loss of experienced researchers and senior leadership may prove harder to brush off. Whether Apple can stabilise its AI teams and regain momentum will likely become clearer once its next wave of AI-powered features reaches users.