Meta Hires Apple AI Executive Behind ChatGPT-Style Web Search Development for Siri

The recent departure of a prominent Apple executive to Meta marks a significant setback for the tech giant’s burgeoning AI initiatives. Ke Yang, who had only recently assumed leadership of Apple’s Answers, Knowledge, and Information (AKI) team, has reportedly accepted an enticing position at Meta Platforms Inc.

Ke Yang’s Move to Meta: A Shift in Apple’s AI Strategy

BREAKING: Apple’s AI executive in charge of its Answers, Knowledge and Information team to add ChatGPT-like web search to Siri is leaving for Meta. He got promoted to the Apple role, reporting to AI chief John Giannandrea, a few weeks ago.https://t.co/QfnIU006xj

— Mark Gurman (@markgurman) October 15, 2025

According to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, Yang’s recent promotion placed him in a pivotal role aimed at enhancing Siri’s capabilities, allowing it to retrieve user-specific information directly from the web—similar to functionalities provided by OpenAI’s large language models (LLMs).

This development is undoubtedly a major blow to Apple’s AI ambitions, which are still in a nascent stage. The company made initial strides in October 2024 by introducing several AI functionalities, though it has yet to roll out the highly anticipated features like contextual in-app actions and personalized awareness.

To bridge the gap in its AI offerings, Apple has undertaken several strategic initiatives, including:

Collaborating with OpenAI to integrate its large language models within Apple’s AI framework.
Acquiring three startups such as TrueMeeting and WhyLabs to expand its AI development capabilities.
Implementing privacy-focused AI operations through Private Apple Intelligence, which processes simpler AI tasks locally while handling complex functions on encrypted private cloud servers.
Developing a personalized AI model that effectively operates on iPhones and iPads, consisting of 3 billion parameters.
Creating a server-based LLM, alongside diffusion image generation and coding aids targeted for the Xcode developer environment.
Opening its foundational AI models to third-party developers to enhance AI functionality across various applications.

Looking ahead, Apple has plans to roll out several exciting features in the coming months:

Integration of third-party AI solutions
- This will allow Siri to utilize specific LLMs, such as OpenAI’s GPT or Google’s Gemini, to perform designated tasks.
Enhanced In-app Actions
- Siri will gain the ability to execute context-aware tasks across supported applications via voice commands, such as adding items to a shopping list or sending messages.
Greater Personal Context Awareness
- Siri will leverage user data to provide customized services, like locating specific podcasts mentioned in text conversations within the Messages app.

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