Apple Vision Pro Executive Paul Meade Joins OpenAI Hardware Team
Original: Apple Vision Pro exec is reportedly leaving for OpenAI
Why This Matters
Executive movement signals intensifying hardware competition between Apple and OpenAI in AI devices and wearables sector.
Paul Meade, Apple vice president overseeing Vision Pro headset development and upcoming AI-powered smart glasses, is departing Apple to join OpenAI's hardware team, according to Bloomberg. The move follows organizational changes under incoming CEO John Ternus.
Paul Meade, Apple's vice president in charge of the Vision Pro headset program, is leaving the company to join OpenAI's hardware team, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. Meade also led development of Apple's AI-powered smart glasses project slated for launch next year. The departure comes as John Ternus assumes the Apple CEO role and implements reorganization of the hardware engineering division, which reportedly led some vice presidents to feel demoted. While the Vision Pro headset failed to achieve significant market success, Apple is pursuing more affordable smart glasses as a competitive response to Meta's wearable offerings. OpenAI is currently collaborating with former Apple chief design officer Jony Ive on an AI device that CEO Sam Altman has described as more peaceful and calm than an iPhone, though reports from late 2025 indicated the company faced technical challenges with the project.