Apple Vision Pro Chief Joins OpenAI's Hardware Team

Paul Meade, who led Apple's Vision Pro and smart glasses projects, is leaving for OpenAI to work on AI devices.

Paul Meade, the executive responsible for Apple's Vision Pro and smart glasses initiatives, has decided to leave the company. According to Bloomberg, he will join OpenAI's hardware unit next week. Meade had been with Apple since 2010 and worked on the Vision Products Group since 2017. He previously contributed to the iPad and iPhone teams.

Meade's departure comes after a reorganization at Apple. John Ternus is preparing to take over as CEO, and Johny Srouji will replace him as chief hardware officer. These changes have reportedly upset some hardware executives, which might have influenced Meade's decision. He will be replaced by Fletcher Rothkopf, who currently heads product design for the Vision Pro and smart glasses.

At OpenAI, Meade will focus on developing AI devices. He is not the first Apple executive to move there; former employees like Jony Ive, Tang Tan, and Evans Hankey have also joined. This trend suggests that OpenAI is aggressively building its hardware capabilities, which could lead to innovative products in the future.