Apple vice president Paul Meade, who oversaw development of the Vision Pro headset and the company’s upcoming AI-powered smart glasses, is leaving the company to join OpenAI’s hardware team, according to a Bloomberg report from Mark Gurman published Friday.
A shakeup at the top of Apple hardware
Gurman frames Meade’s departure as a direct consequence of John Ternus’ imminent elevation to Apple CEO. Ternus, currently senior vice president of Hardware Engineering, has been restructuring the hardware team, and some vice presidents reportedly felt they had been effectively demoted in the process.
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Meade had been a key figure in Apple’s push into spatial computing and wearable AI. In addition to leading the Vision Pro, he was reportedly responsible for the development of AI-powered smart glasses that Apple plans to launch next year — a product the company hopes will compete more effectively with Meta’s Ray-Ban Stories and other wearable devices.
OpenAI’s hardware ambitions
At OpenAI, Meade joins a hardware team that has been working closely with Apple’s former chief design officer Jony Ive on an entirely new AI device. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman has described the device as designed to be “more peaceful and calm than an iPhone,” though reports from last fall suggested the company was struggling to finalize the product’s design and feature set.
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OpenAI’s hardware efforts have been shrouded in secrecy, but the addition of Meade — an executive with deep experience shipping consumer electronics at scale — signals the company is serious about moving beyond software and into physical products.
What this means for Apple’s wearable strategy
The costly Vision Pro was not a hit with consumers, but Apple has not abandoned the spatial computing category. The company is betting that a more affordable pair of AI-powered smart glasses can carve out a meaningful market position against Meta, which has already shipped millions of its camera-equipped Ray-Ban glasses.
TechCrunch has reached out to Apple and OpenAI for comment but has not yet received a response.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Paul Meade and why is he leaving Apple?
Paul Meade is the Apple vice president who led development of the Vision Pro headset and the upcoming AI-powered smart glasses. He is leaving to join OpenAI’s hardware team, according to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, partly due to a restructuring under incoming CEO John Ternus.
What is OpenAI’s hardware project with Jony Ive?
OpenAI is working with Apple’s former chief design officer Jony Ive on a new AI device. CEO Sam Altman has described it as more peaceful and calm than an iPhone, though reports indicate the company has faced challenges finalizing the design.
How does this affect Apple’s smart glasses plans?
Apple is reportedly planning to launch more affordable AI-powered smart glasses next year to compete with Meta’s wearables. Meade’s departure could impact the project’s leadership, though Apple has a deep bench of hardware engineering talent.
Is the Apple Vision Pro considered a failure?
The costly Vision Pro was not a commercial hit, but Apple continues to invest in spatial computing and wearable technology. The company is shifting focus toward more accessible products like the upcoming smart glasses.
