Apple exec Paul Meade joins OpenAI's hardware unit

Apple vice‑president Paul Meade, who has overseen hardware engineering for the Vision Pro mixed‑reality headset and Apple’s upcoming AI‑enhanced smart‑glasses project, will leave the company next week to head the hardware division at OpenAI. In his new role Meade is expected to work on a family of AI‑powered consumer devices that OpenAI is developing.

His departure comes as Apple reorganises its top leadership: Tim Cook is set to hand over the CEO role to John Ternus, and chip chief Johny Srouji will become chief hardware officer. Apple has tapped Fletcher Rothkopf, Meade’s longtime deputy, to assume responsibility for the Vision Pro and smart‑glasses programmes.

OpenAI has been building a hardware team that includes former Apple senior staff such as designer Jony Ive, industrial‑design lead Tang Tan and Evans Hankey, following its $6.5 billion acquisition of their startup io. The recruitment of Meade highlights the growing talent war between leading technology firms to secure expertise for AI‑centric devices, as Apple shifts focus from the high‑priced Vision Pro to lighter, display‑free smart glasses.

The move signals increasing competition in the emerging AI‑hardware market, with OpenAI aiming to extend AI beyond software and Apple working to strengthen its own wearable strategy.