Apple products have always been known for their carefully crafted and polished aesthetics, something that set them apart from their competition. Now, the company is seeing some of its design team leaving to try their luck in another field: artificial intelligence.
The former head of product design, Tang Tan, is leaving Apple to join LoveFrom, Jony Ive’s company. Ive’s presence was key within Apple: we can credit him with the design of the original iPhone, among others. Tan and Ive will be working on a new hardware project focused on artificial intelligence, which will also have the support of Sam Altman.
He is leaving his position as vice president of product design, which includes the iPhone, the Apple Watch, and the AirPods, so his departure leaves a void that will be difficult to fill.
In his role at LoveFrom, Tan will take on the leadership in hardware design for the emerging artificial intelligence project. Meanwhile, Altman will be in charge of the software section. Although all products are in very early stages of development, we know they will focus mainly on the home.
Rumors had already hinted some time ago that Tan would leave Apple, but it was not known where he would go. Along with him, we know that up to 14 members of Ive’s former team have left Apple so far. Only half a dozen of the original staff are still working at the company.
To make matters worse, at the beginning of the year, Evans Hankey, Jony Ive’s successor, left the company after just a few years as head of product design. So far, Ive has recruited over 20 former Apple employees for LoveFrom.
