Overview
- Bloomberg reports that Abidur Chowdhury has departed Apple for an unspecified AI startup, a move that insiders said made waves given his rising profile.
- He worked on the iPhone Air and narrated its roughly two-minute design segment during Apple’s September launch presentation.
- Outlets citing Bloomberg say his exit is not related to the iPhone Air’s underwhelming sales performance.
- Chowdhury’s destination has not been identified publicly, and his LinkedIn profile still lists Apple as his employer, according to multiple reports.
- The departure lands as Apple’s design organization undergoes broader change, with Jeff Williams retiring and the team now reporting directly to CEO Tim Cook, and as reports point to a second iPhone Air targeted for 2027.