Meta poaches Apple’s UI executive Alan Dye to lead AI department

Alan Dye, who has been working for Apple since 2015, is leaving his current employer to take on a new position at Meta, where he will be responsible for integrating hardware, software, and artificial intelligence (AI) into consumer devices.

Apple is replacing Dye with Steve Lemay, who’s worked for Apple since 1999.

In an emailed statement to Bloomberg, Apple CEO Tim Cook said that Lemay has played a key role in the design of every major Apple interface since he was appointed head of user interface design.

“He has always set an extraordinarily high bar for excellence and embodies Apple’s culture of collaboration and creativity. Design is fundamental to who we are at Apple, and today, we have an extraordinary design team working on the most innovative product lineup in our history,” Cook adds.

According to Bloomberg reporter Mark Gurman, Dye had taken on a more prominent role at Apple since Jony Ive left the company in 2019 to start his own design firm named LoveFrom. Ive used to be Apple’s senior vice president of industrial design and chief design officer.

Dye will launch his career at Meta starting December 31st, 2025, where he will serve as chief design officer. In that role, he will be reporting to Andrew Bosworth, Meta’s chief technology officer, who oversees Reality Labs.

Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg is pleased with Dye’s transfer from Apple to his company. In a post on Meta’s social messaging platform Thread, he says that Dye’s new studio will bring together “design, fashion, and technology” to define the company’s next generation of products and experiences.

“Our idea is to treat intelligence as a new design material and imagine what becomes possible when it is abundant, capable, and human-centered. We plan to elevate design within Meta, and pull together a talented group with a combination of craft, creative vision, systems thinking, and deep experience building iconic products that bridge hardware and software,” Zuckerberg states.

“We’re entering a new era where AI glasses and other devices will change how we connect with technology and each other. The potential is enormous, but what matters most is making these experiences feel natural and truly centered around people. With this new studio, we’re focused on making every interaction thoughtful, intuitive, and built to serve people,” he adds.

Unlock more exclusive Cybernews content on YouTube.