• Source:JND
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Meta is expanding its artificial intelligence (AI) unit, as the company is believed to have recruited Frank Chu, a senior AI exec from Apple. Chu is reportedly headed to join Meta’s Superintelligence Labs (MSL), a newly reshuffled arm responsible for pursuing the company’s ambitious AI long-game, Bloomberg sources said.

The move is even more notable given that Meta has said it’s implementing a freeze on most AI hire — highlighting just how crucial Chu’s work is regarded at the company.

Frank Chu’s Role at Apple

Frank Chu played a key role in Apple’s AI ecosystem, overseeing teams focused on:

  • Cloud infrastructure for running large-scale AI models.
  • Training systems used to improve Apple’s AI software.
  • Search capabilities built into Apple services such as the Siri voice assistant and Apple Music.

 

With the wide-ranging portfolio, Chu had direct control over some key Apple AI functions. His move to Meta stands out as one of the most notable departures yet for Apple’s AI division, which has also lost a number of other top leaders who have jumped ship for rival tech outfits.

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Chu’s New Role at Meta

At Meta, Chu will be part of a sub-team called MSL Infra, which is about AI infrastructure — the plumbing, in essence, that allows model training, deployment, and scaling. Meta has been working on a superintelligence team called Superintelligence Labs (MSL, yet more proof the technology industry can be weirdly literal and unimaginative with its names if left unchecked). MSL sits as part of Meta’s wider AI reorganisation, which features four major divisions including MSL, all led by Alexander Wang, formerly of Scale AI.

The mission of MSL Infra is to build systems highly robust and scalable to support Meta’s most advanced AI work from large language models to generative AI tools for its apps like Instagram, Facebook and WhatsApp.

Meta’s Hiring Strategy: Focused but Selective

Curiously, Chu's hiring lands as Meta is pulling back recruitment writ large. In a memo to hiring managers, Meta leadership said the company is “temporarily pausing hiring across all MSL teams, with the exception of business critical roles.”

The memo further stated:

  • This pause is appropriate because current leadership now has the next six years to strategically map the growth of its headcount by 2026.
  • Business-critical roles will still be approved, but on a case-by-case basis.

Put another way, while Meta is still in love with the idea of being able to accelerate and scale its AI aspirations, it's also getting a bit more discerning about hiring to make sure it can keep that growth going in a considered way.

What This Means for Apple

Chu’s exodus is part of mounting issues that Apple has had in the AI department. The company has faced backlash for trailing rivals including Meta, Google and OpenAI in developing generative AI.

  • Apple has postponed a big Siri update — and users and developers are angry about it.
  • Apple may utilize third-party AI models for Siri instead of depending solely on in-house tech, reports indicate

The departure of a top talent like Frank Chu could complicate Apple’s task in trying to close the gap in the race for AI.

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The Bigger Picture

Meta has been aggressively betting on AI in hopes that it will be the fuel for both its metaverse aspirations and its existing social platforms. Hiring proven leaders such as Frank Chu further demonstrates that the company is increasing investments in infrastructure and scale so that it can accommodate the huge computing demands required by next-generation AI.”

The brain drain is presenting challenges for Apple’s long-term AI strategy at a time when the company is developing an increasing number of AI features for its devices and services.

Conclusion

The appointment further illustrates the race for talent that is escalating in Silicon Valley’s AI battle lines. Although Meta said that it hopes to scale back on most of its hiring — in a limited fashion — the company plans to continue bringing on new talent to keep and expand its lead in AI. Meanwhile, Apple is under increasing pressure to speed up its AI roadmap after the departure of key executives.

As the arms race for AI heats up, we may see more articles like this come out — the great battle of tech’s titans taking a fundamental shift.