Paul Meade, the Apple VP who leads the Vision Products Group for Vision Pro and smart glasses, is reportedly set to leave Apple next week and start OpenAI’s hardware unit. The move comes as OpenAI ramps up AI-powered devices, including work tied to Jony Ive’s
Paul Meade has spent years shaping how Apple thinks about wearing computing—first through the hardware engineering behind the Vision Pro headset. then through the company’s smart glasses roadmap. Next week. that work may shift to a very different mission as he’s reportedly preparing to leave Apple for OpenAI.
Bloomberg reports that Meade, an Apple VP who heads the Vision Products Group, will be starting OpenAI’s hardware division. He will be tasked with launching the new in-house effort, with Bloomberg saying he’ll oversee development of a family of AI-powered devices.
The timing lands in the middle of an expanding OpenAI hardware story. OpenAI has been developing AI-powered devices with Jony Ive’s startup since 2025. Ive’s io merged with OpenAI in a $6.5 billion deal, though it remains independent. How Meade’s arrival and OpenAI’s new hardware unit will intersect with that ongoing collaboration is still unclear. but the pieces are clearly lining up around devices rather than just software.
At Apple. Meade has led hardware engineering for Vision Pro for seven years. and he has also spearheaded Apple’s smart glasses projects. Previous reports said Apple won’t launch its first smart glasses model until the end of 2027. In the meantime. the internal question is how much of Meade’s day-to-day authority and technical direction moves with him—and how quickly Apple can translate that experience to whoever steps in.
Fletcher Rothkopf, who was one of the founders of the Apple Vision Pro team, is expected to take over many of Meade’s responsibilities. The reshuffle is also happening as Apple’s broader leadership transition approaches.
Bloomberg says Meade’s departure was caused by John Ternus’ impending appointment as CEO of Apple. Ternus is currently SVP of hardware engineering, and he will take over from Tim Cook on September 1.
The connection between Meade’s exit and Apple’s next CEO is hard to miss: Vision Pro and smart glasses sit in the center of Apple’s hardware bet on the future. With Ternus stepping in on September 1 and Rothkopf preparing to absorb responsibilities. Apple is effectively re-spacing its leadership at the same time OpenAI is building a dedicated hardware team around AI-powered devices.
OpenAI’s device plans, meanwhile, already reach beyond the immediate push. The Information reported earlier this year that Ive’s studio is also working on a series of AI devices. including a smart speaker expected to be available sometime in 2027. With Meade now reportedly set to lead hardware inside OpenAI. the race over who delivers the next wave of AI experiences may be moving into a new phase—one where engineering leadership and product timelines collide.
Apple Vision Pro smart glasses Paul Meade OpenAI hardware division Jony Ive io John Ternus Tim Cook
So he’s leaving Apple for OpenAI hardware? Apple’s about to lose the glasses race I guess.
Wait, Vision Pro people going to OpenAI… doesn’t that mean OpenAI is basically making iGlasses now? Also how does Jony Ive’s thing work if it merged but is independent? Feels like corporate spaghetti.
I don’t even get why Apple smart glasses are “end of 2027” like… couldn’t they just hire whoever designed the Vision Pro and be done? If Paul Meade left next week, Apple should’ve already fixed the roadmap or whatever.
This article says the timing is “unclear” with Jony Ive’s startup but the whole point is devices, not software, right? So like… are they gonna start shipping AI headsets faster now? Also $6.5 billion deal and still independent seems pointless to me, unless Apple already gave up. Idk, I just feel like everyone’s copying Apple now.