Publié : 25 November 2025
Actualisé : 8 hours ago
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Apple’s Design Star Slams the Door, Lured by AI’s Siren Song
📋 Table of Contents
Picture the scene in Cupertino. In the heart of the world’s most secretive and admired design studio, a chair sits empty. And not just any chair. The one belonging to Abidur Chowdhury, one of the brilliant minds behind the bold design of the iPhone Air. He isn’t leaving for a competitor, no. He’s abandoning the tech flagship for the bubbling ocean of an artificial intelligence startup.
This is more than just a departure; it’s a symptom of a tectonic shift in Silicon Valley. So, what’s really happening at Apple?
🌟 A Raw Talent on the Verge of Greatness
Abidur Chowdhury wasn’t just another employee. Having arrived in 2019, he was seen as one of the heirs to Jony Ive’s philosophy, a visionary destined to shape the brand’s future products. He was even seen on stage during the last keynote, passionately presenting the vision for the iPhone Air. His departure is a blow, as he represented the new generation, the one meant to carry the torch of Apple’s iconic design.
The key takeaway: Chowdhury’s departure is not an isolated case. It is part of a wave of resignations that has seen several key design figures leave Apple in recent months, creating a vacuum of experienced talent.
🚶♂️ A Talent Drain?
Chowdhury’s name is added to a list that is starting to cause concern: Evans Hankey, Tang Tan, Cyrus Daniel… All pillars of design who have recently left Cupertino. Should we see this as a sign of internal turmoil, of a culture that’s eroding? Maybe not. The real explanation is likely simpler, and far more formidable for Apple.
The center of gravity for innovation has shifted. For a decade, everything revolved around mobile. Today, whether you’re an engineer, a designer, or an investor, all eyes are on AI. That’s where the next revolution is happening.
This new frontier is attracting the most creative minds, who are seeking freedom and unprecedented challenges. AI is no longer a research field; it has become a talent magnet that even Apple is struggling to resist.
🤖 The Real Culprit: AI’s Magnetic Pull
Chowdhury’s choice is telling. He’s not joining Google or Samsung to create another smartphone. He’s diving into the unknown of an AI startup, a world where everything is yet to be built. For creatives, this blank slate is infinitely more exciting than iterating on an existing product, no matter how perfect it may be.
| Designer Name | Notable Contribution | Assumed Reason for Departure |
|---|---|---|
| Abidur Chowdhury | iPhone Air Design | Joining an AI startup |
| Tang Tan | iPhone & Apple Watch Design | Joining LoveFrom (Jony Ive) |
| Evans Hankey | VP of Industrial Design | Personal departure |
🔭 A New Challenge for Apple
So, should we be worried about the future of design at Apple? Not yet. The firm has incredible resources and talent. But this departure is a warning. Apple’s biggest challenge may no longer be designing the next iPhone, but convincing its best people that their future is still in Cupertino, and not in the new El Dorado of artificial intelligence.
Important: Contrary to rumors, this departure is not linked to the iPhone Air’s sales. Its design was praised, and the device could be a strategic stepping stone before the launch of a foldable iPhone in 2026.
The battle for talent is no longer being fought on the same ground. And for the first time in a long while, Apple is no longer the only sun around which everything revolves.
❔ Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Abidur Chowdhury and why is his departure from Apple notable?
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