Apple's Vision Pro and smart glasses head Paul Meade jumps to OpenAI

Apple's vice president of hardware engineering for the Vision Pro headset and smart glasses is leaving to join OpenAI. Paul Meade will depart Apple next week and step into a role at OpenAI's hardware division, where he'll lead development of a future lineup of AI devices, according to people familiar with the matter.

Meade spent 16 years at Apple, previously managing core engineering for the iPad and iPhone before joining the Vision Products Group (VPG) in 2017 to work on headsets. He took over hardware engineering for the group in 2019.

His exit comes as Apple pivots its hardware roadmap away from closed-off headsets in favor of smart glasses similar to Meta's, following lackluster Vision Pro sales. Mike Rockwell, the former VPG head, was moved to the Siri team, and VPG was split into separate hardware and software organizations.

Meade's departure also coincides with a major restructuring in Apple's hardware engineering division. After John Ternus was set to replace Tim Cook as CEO on September 1, new hardware chief Johny Srouji initiated a reorganization that pushed several VPs — including Meade — one level down in reporting structure, placing them under new VP Tom Marieb.

At OpenAI, Meade will reunite with former Apple design executives Jony Ive, Tang Tan, and Evans Hankey. Their AI hardware startup was acquired by OpenAI last year for $6.5 billion.