The competition between Apple and Meta in the smart glasses space is heating up — and now it’s expanding behind the scenes. According to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, Meta has hired two more AI researchers from Apple, adding to a growing list of key defections.
Tom Gunter and Mark Lee are the latest names to leave Apple’s AI division. Gunter, a seasoned engineer, had already stepped away from Apple for another AI company before joining Meta. Lee was a more junior team member, but still respected within Apple’s machine learning efforts. Both will be working on Meta’s hardware-related AI initiatives, including smart glasses.
These moves are significant because both Apple and Meta are investing heavily in smart glasses, but taking different approaches. Meta already has a product on the market through its Ray-Ban partnership, offering a screen, voice assistant support, and some basic AI features. Apple, on the other hand, is rumored to be developing a more minimal first-generation device without a screen.
Meta's Ray-Bans are currently what most people imagine when "smart glasses" are mentioned. | Image credit — Meta
Meta’s current smart glasses offer display elements and built-in AI tools, but they’ve yet to become widely adopted. Apple’s upcoming product will likely focus on cameras, audio quality, and tight iPhone integration. If it launches as expected, the company’s first smart glasses may look and function more like an evolution of AirPods with vision features — rather than a full augmented reality device.
In this context, the engineering teams matter. Both companies will rely on advanced AI to enable context-aware voice interactions, camera enhancements, and real-time processing. Meta’s strategy seems to include building up its AI bench by hiring people who already have experience with Apple’s approach.
It’s still unclear when Apple’s glasses will launch. Analysts expect the first version to arrive sometime in the next couple of years, possibly ahead of a more advanced Vision Pro successor. Meanwhile, Meta continues to iterate with new hardware that integrates AI features more deeply into everyday use.
What’s clear is that AI talent is becoming a key resource in the wearable race. As both companies work toward making smart glasses useful, comfortable, and intelligent, the engineers behind the scenes may end up playing just as important a role as the hardware designers.
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Johanna 'Jojo the Techie' is a skilled mobile technology expert with over 15 years of hands-on experience, specializing in the Google ecosystem and Pixel devices. Known for her user-friendly approach, she leverages her vast tech support background to provide accessible and insightful coverage on latest technology trends. As a recognized thought leader and former member of #TeamPixel, Johanna ensures she stays at the forefront of Google services and products, making her a reliable source for all things Pixel and ChromeOS.
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