Top Apple Vision Pro and Smart Glasses Executive Joins OpenAI
Apple Inc.’s leading executive responsible for the Vision Pro headset and the company’s smart glasses initiatives is departing for OpenAI, marking a continuation of notable departures to competitors in the artificial intelligence and hardware industries. Paul Meade, a vice president, is poised to depart from Apple by next week and will subsequently join OpenAI’s hardware division, as reported by sources familiar with the situation. Meade will work on OpenAI’s upcoming family of AI-powered devices, according to sources. Shares of Apple reduced their earlier gains following the news. They experienced an increase of 2% at 3:25 pm. Meade’s departure represents a significant setback for the iPhone manufacturer. He has directed hardware engineering for the Vision Pro headset — previously regarded as Apple’s forthcoming significant computing platform — for seven years. Representatives from Apple and OpenAI refrained from providing any comments. He has also been responsible for the development of display-free Apple smart glasses intended to propel the company into the AI wearables sector next year and compete with an expanding category initiated by Meta Platforms Inc. Meade’s team, referred to as the Vision Products Group, or VPG, is responsible for the advancement of upcoming augmented reality glasses anticipated for the conclusion of this decade, alongside efforts on a variety of other AI-related wearable devices.
Many of Meade’s responsibilities are being assumed by Fletcher Rothkopf, his long-time deputy who oversees the product design function for the Vision Pro and smart glasses initiatives. At Apple, Meade has established himself as a prominent engineering leader, initially taking on the role of key iPad manager in 2010 and subsequently advancing to head of iPhone program management in 2012. He became a member of the Vision Products Group in 2017, subsequently assuming responsibility for all hardware engineering in 2019. At OpenAI, Meade will collaborate with former Apple associates Jony Ive, Tang Tan, and Evans Hankey, who previously oversaw design, hardware product design, and industrial design at the iPhone manufacturer. The trio established an AI hardware startup that was acquired by OpenAI last year for $6.5 billion. OpenAI has indicated that it is developing multiple new devices that may be introduced in the forthcoming years. Apple is currently developing a range of innovative AI products, which encompass smart home devices, a tabletop robot, and a wearable pendant. Additionally, the company is working on AirPods equipped with cameras to provide users with a view of their surroundings. It is uncommon for a vice president at Apple to transition to a rival firm, with the exception of the designers who have moved to OpenAI. Another exception was Alan Dye, who led Apple’s human interface group prior to his transition to Meta in December.
OpenAI has independently recruited personnel from Apple’s hardware engineering department, targeting skilled individuals within the ranks. Meade’s impending departure is a consequence of John Ternus, the veteran leader of Apple’s hardware engineering division and Meade’s previous superior, ascending to the role of chief executive officer on September 1. Apple’s chips chief, Johny Srouji, has ascended to the role of chief hardware officer, succeeding Ternus, and has recently embarked on a contentious reorganisation of Apple’s hardware engineering division. That resulted in several vice presidents under Ternus receiving new positions, while some executives perceived their status as having been diminished. With Srouji assuming control over all hardware operations, Meade and several other hardware leaders have shifted their reporting structure to Tom Marieb, the newly appointed vice president of hardware engineering, instead of reporting directly to Srouji. Marieb, in turn, reports to Srouji, effectively relegating many of those executives to a lower tier within the organisational hierarchy.
Meade’s departure represents yet another setback for Apple’s headset initiatives. Meade’s predecessor, Mike Rockwell, transitioned from his role leading the organization to assume control of Siri. Rockwell brought several Vision Pro executives with him to assist in the launch of Siri AI this year, dividing the Vision Products Group into distinct hardware and software entities. With the Vision Pro underperforming in sales, Apple has recalibrated its strategy to significantly downplay the importance of enclosed headsets and redirect its efforts towards developing glasses. The company has initiated and subsequently abandoned multiple headset concepts over the last few years, including a more affordable and lighter Vision headset that was slated for release in 2027. The company has revisited its approach to an enclosed headset, currently testing a device that is not anticipated to be released before the conclusion of 2028 or 2029, according to reports.
