3 Minutes
Abidur Chowdhury, the industrial designer who became a public face of the iPhone Air launch, has quietly left Apple to join an AI startup — a move that underlines where top hardware talent is headed right now.
Timing sparked questions — but not the reasons you might think
Chowdhury spent six years on Apple’s industrial design team and featured prominently in the iPhone Air launch video earlier this year. He departed the company shortly after the phone reached customers, prompting speculation that his exit was a reaction to the Air’s commercial performance.
But reporting from Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman says that’s not the case. Inside Apple, Chowdhury’s work on the Air is well regarded, and the company is already pushing forward with a second-generation iPhone Air reportedly scheduled for a 2027 debut. In short: the move looks less like a retreat and more like a personal career pivot.
Why designers are swapping hardware giants for AI startups
Chowdhury’s leap is part of a broader trend. Since Jony Ive’s departure in 2019, Apple’s industrial design group has gone through a long period of change — veteran designers retiring or moving on, and a new generation stepping up. At the same time, artificial intelligence has reshaped priorities across the industry, pulling experienced hardware and product designers toward startups that promise fresh problems to solve.
Imagine applying the sensibilities of smartphone design to products that blend hardware, sensors, and on-device AI. That’s an enticing challenge for designers used to optimizing form, materials, and human interaction.
What this means for Apple and the iPhone Air lineup
Apple isn’t standing still. Reports that an iPhone Air 2 is already in development suggest continuity in strategy — even as the faces behind the work change. For customers, that means new design iterations and refinements are coming; for Apple, it highlights a growing need to attract and retain talent in a competitive market.
- Chowdhury spent six years on Apple’s industrial design team and was featured in the iPhone Air launch video.
- He left Apple to join an AI startup; his departure was not reported to be tied to the Air’s sales performance.
- Apple is reportedly developing an iPhone Air 2 with a potential 2027 release.
- The industry trend: experienced hardware designers are moving toward AI-driven product work.
There’s an important takeaway for tech watchers: talent flows follow the most intriguing problems. Right now, AI presents those problems, and even the designers behind high-profile devices are answering the call. Keep an eye on how Apple’s next-generation teams interpret the lessons of the Air — and how AI startups translate polished hardware thinking into new kinds of products.
Source: gizmochina
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