Meta Platforms has intensified its push toward AI leadership by recruiting two senior Apple AI researchers—Mark Lee and Tom Gunter—into its Superintelligence Labs team, according to Bloomberg News. This high-profile move comes shortly after Ruoming Pang, Apple’s former Head of Foundation Models, also joined Meta, reportedly in exchange for a multi-million-dollar compensation package. The trio, who previously worked together at Apple, are now helping shape Meta’s most ambitious AI initiative to date.
The additions reflect CEO Mark Zuckerberg’s aggressive strategy to position Meta at the forefront of artificial intelligence. Over the past few weeks, he has taken a hands-on role in what industry insiders describe as a “talent raid,” targeting elite AI professionals to fast-track the company’s development of superhuman intelligence systems.
Meta’s long-term plan includes a massive infrastructure investment—reportedly in the range of “hundreds of billions of dollars”—to build cutting-edge AI data centers capable of powering next-generation models. This unprecedented scale highlights Meta’s intention to lead not just in consumer AI products but also in the foundational research and compute capabilities that underpin them.
“The hires underscore CEO Mark Zuckerberg’s aggressive campaign to attract top-tier AI talent,” a clear signal to competitors that Meta is all-in on the AI arms race.
While Apple has declined to comment on the departures, Meta’s own silence suggests a focus on building over broadcasting. With Lee already in position and Gunter set to join shortly, the Superintelligence Labs unit is quickly assembling a formidable team of researchers poised to break new ground in advanced AI development.
As the competition between tech giants escalates, Meta’s latest moves underscore a broader ambition—to not just compete, but to reshape the future of artificial intelligence. With key talent from rivals and deep pockets to match, Meta appears determined to lead the AI race by innovation, scale, and sheer force of expertise.
