OpenAI Raids Apple’s Hardware Talent Pool—Tech War Heats Up

Silicon Valley's talent wars just escalated—big time.

OpenAI's Hardware Gambit

They're not just poaching engineers; they're gutting Apple's core hardware teams. Think chip designers, systems architects, the folks who make devices actually work. This isn't a recruitment drive—it's a targeted strike.

Why Hardware Matters for AI

AI runs on silicon. Faster chips mean smarter models, cheaper inference, and total ecosystem control. OpenAI gets it. They're building the full stack—from algorithms to the metal. Apple's loss is their gain.

The Finance Angle

Wall Street's watching—but they're still pricing Apple like it's 2019. Meanwhile, OpenAI's valuation quietly doubles every time they hire another ex-Cuomo. Priorities, people.

Bottom line: Talent flows where the future's being built. Right now, that's not Cupertino.

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Part of OpenAI’s success in attracting Apple employees comes from the pay. The company has offered large compensation packages, including stock grants worth more than $1 million, but money isn’t the only draw. Tang Tan, OpenAI’s chief hardware officer who worked at Apple for 25 years, has been telling recruits they’ll find less bureaucracy and more teamwork at OpenAI. Many Apple staffers have grown frustrated with slow, incremental updates to products and tighter corporate controls.

Interestingly, OpenAI is aiming to launch its first devices between late 2026 and early 2027, with ideas ranging from a smart speaker and digital recorder to glasses and a wearable pin. However, by poaching talent, OpenAI risks straining its partnership with Apple, which currently uses OpenAI models for Siri and other apps. In addition, relying on Chinese suppliers brings its own challenges, which include geopolitical tensions and potential supply chain disruptions. Still, moving towards AI-powered hardware seems to be the next logical step for the company that leads in AI software.

Is Apple a Buy or Sell Right Now?

Turning to Wall Street, analysts have a Moderate Buy consensus rating on AAPL stock based on 16 Buys, 15 Holds, and two Sells assigned in the past three months, as indicated by the graphic below. Furthermore, the average AAPL price target of $244.84 per share implies 1.6% upside potential.