In a bold move that underscores the escalating AI talent war, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg reportedly offered a pay package exceeding $200 million to entice Ruoming Pang, a distinguished engineer and former head of Apple’s AI models team, to join Meta’s ambitious Superintelligence Labs. Pang, a key figure in developing Apple’s AI-driven features, reportedly responded with an enthusiastic “where do I sign?” and swiftly switched teams when Apple declined to match the staggering offer. Announced in early July 2025, this high-profile poaching has sent shockwaves through Silicon Valley, highlighting the fierce competition for AI expertise and raising questions about Apple’s strategy in the rapidly evolving tech landscape. This article explores the details of Pang’s move, the context of the AI talent race, and the implications for both Meta and Apple.
The Deal: A $200 Million Game-Changer
The news broke on July 10, 2025, when Bloomberg reported that Meta had lured Pang with a compensation package valued at over $200 million, spread across several years. The offer, one of the highest ever for a corporate engineer, includes a substantial base salary, a significant signing bonus, and a hefty stock award tied to performance milestones and long-term loyalty. Sources indicated that the stock component forms the bulk of the package, with payouts contingent on Meta’s stock performance and Pang’s tenure, meaning the full amount may not materialize if he leaves early or if the company’s shares underperform.
Pang, who led a 100-person team at Apple responsible for foundational AI models powering features like email summaries and Genmoji in Apple Intelligence, was a prized asset. His departure marks a coup for Meta, which has been aggressively building its Superintelligence Labs to develop AI systems surpassing human capabilities. The offer far exceeded Apple’s typical executive compensation, with CEO Tim Cook earning $74.6 million in 2024, including a $3 million base salary and $58.1 million in stock awards. Apple reportedly made no effort to counter Meta’s bid, a decision that has sparked debate about the company’s valuation of its AI leadership.
Pang’s swift acceptance—“where do I sign?” as insiders quipped—reflects the allure of Meta’s proposal. His move, confirmed by Meta on July 8, 2025, positions him alongside other high-profile hires like former GitHub CEO Nat Friedman and Scale AI co-founder Alexandr Wang, now Meta’s Chief AI Officer following a $14.3 billion investment. The deal underscores Meta’s willingness to break compensation records to secure top talent, outpacing even CEO pay at major global banks.
Context: The AI Talent War Heats Up
The poaching of Pang is the latest salvo in an intensifying battle for AI expertise among tech giants. Meta’s aggressive recruitment drive follows a pattern set by competitors like OpenAI and Google, who have also vied for the industry’s brightest minds. In June 2025, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman revealed on a podcast that Meta had offered signing bonuses as high as $100 million to lure his researchers, though he claimed many stayed due to OpenAI’s superior culture. Despite Altman’s remarks, Meta has successfully onboarded over 10 OpenAI researchers, including vision transformer co-creator Lucas Beyer, signaling its determination to lead in artificial general intelligence (AGI).
Pang’s background adds significant value to Meta’s efforts. With a PhD from the University of Southern California and 15 years at Google, where he contributed to projects like Tacotron 2, Pang joined Apple in 2021 to spearhead its AI models team. His work on on-device AI, critical for Apple’s privacy-first approach, made him a linchpin in the company’s delayed Siri revamp and Apple Intelligence rollout. Meta’s offer, reportedly exceeding Cook’s annual pay by multiples, highlights the premium placed on AI talent capable of driving next-generation technologies.
Apple’s decision not to match the offer has raised eyebrows. The company’s compensation structure, while generous for top engineers (averaging $778,000 annually per Levels.fyi), pales in comparison to Meta’s latest bids. This reluctance may stem from Apple’s conservative financial strategy or a belief that its ecosystem and brand loyalty can retain talent without matching such exorbitant sums. However, the loss of Pang, coupled with reports of other engineers considering exits, suggests Apple may face an “AI crisis,” as some analysts have dubbed it.
Pang’s Journey: From Google to Apple to Meta
Ruoming Pang’s career trajectory reflects a deep expertise in AI development. Born in Shanghai, China, he earned a Bachelor’s degree from Shanghai Jiao Tong University before pursuing a Master’s and PhD in Computer Science in the United States. His 15-year tenure at Google, where he worked as a principal software engineer on deep learning frameworks like Babelfish/Lingvo, established him as a leader in the field. In 2021, he joined Apple, taking charge of a team tasked with building the AI backbone for Apple Intelligence, a suite of features integrating large language models into iOS and macOS.
At Apple, Pang’s team developed models that enable on-device processing, a cornerstone of the company’s privacy commitments. However, delays in Siri’s overhaul and criticism of Apple Intelligence’s initial offerings have cast a shadow over the team’s progress. Meta’s offer presented an opportunity to join a division with a singular focus on superintelligence, promising greater resources and a chance to shape cutting-edge AI applications, from smart glasses to WhatsApp enhancements.
Pang’s move mirrors a broader trend of talent shifting to companies prioritizing AI innovation. Meta’s Superintelligence Labs, launched under Zuckerberg’s direct oversight, aims to embed advanced AI across its products, leveraging Pang’s skills to compete with OpenAI’s ChatGPT and Google’s DeepMind. His enthusiasm—“where do I sign?”—suggests confidence in Meta’s vision, though it also raises questions about Apple’s ability to retain its top minds.
Implications for Meta and Apple
For Meta, Pang’s hiring is a strategic win. The company has invested heavily in AI, including a $14.3 billion stake in Scale AI and the recruitment of luminaries like Friedman and Wang. Pang’s expertise in efficient, on-device models could accelerate Meta’s goal of achieving AGI, potentially integrating superintelligent AI into its popular platforms like Instagram and WhatsApp. The $200 million package, while a significant expense, aligns with Meta’s stock-fueled growth strategy, with shares up 20% year-to-date as of July 2025.
Apple, however, faces challenges. The departure of Pang, described as a “distinguished engineer” and “best kind of machine learning expert” by peers, leaves a gap in its AI leadership. The company has appointed Zhifeng Chen as the new head of the Foundation Models team, adopting a more distributed management structure, but the loss of a key innovator could delay its AI roadmap. Critics on X have labeled Apple “criminally late” to the AI game, pointing to Siri’s shortcomings as evidence of deeper issues. Apple’s refusal to match Meta’s offer may signal a strategic pivot, but it risks losing more talent in a competitive market.
The talent war’s financial escalation also sets a precedent. Compensation packages exceeding $200 million, dwarfing Cook’s $74.6 million, could pressure other tech giants to raise salaries, potentially destabilizing industry norms. Meta’s success in poaching Pang, despite Altman’s claims of cultural superiority at OpenAI, suggests that money and vision can outweigh workplace culture in attracting top engineers.
The Broader Tech Landscape
The Pang poaching reflects a seismic shift in the tech industry, where AI is the new frontier. Companies are racing to build AGI, with Meta’s Superintelligence Labs, OpenAI’s research arm, and Google’s DeepMind vying for dominance. Meta’s approach—offering unprecedented pay and reorganizing under Zuckerberg’s leadership—contrasts with Apple’s more cautious, ecosystem-driven strategy. The move also highlights the global talent pool, with Pang’s Chinese roots and U.S. education mirroring the international scope of AI innovation.
Public sentiment, as seen on X, ranges from admiration for Meta’s boldness to concern over Apple’s response. Some users celebrate Pang’s move as a career coup, while others question Apple’s AI future. The deal’s visibility, amplified by Zuckerberg’s personal outreach to top scientists, underscores the high stakes of the AI race, where a single hire can shift competitive dynamics.
Conclusion
The reported $200 million offer from Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg to Apple’s Ruoming Pang, met with an eager “where do I sign?” and Apple’s refusal to match, marks a pivotal moment in the AI talent war. Pang’s switch to Meta’s Superintelligence Labs bolsters the company’s bid for AGI leadership, leveraging his expertise to innovate across its ecosystem. For Apple, the loss exposes vulnerabilities in its AI strategy, prompting a leadership reshuffle but raising doubts about its competitiveness. As the tech industry navigates this high-stakes battle, the Pang deal symbolizes the lengths companies will go to secure the brightest minds, reshaping the future of artificial intelligence and the balance of power in Silicon Valley.
