Apple reshuffles hardware & talent

Apple confirmed this week that the latest Mac Pro (the M2 Ultra tower first sold in 2023) will not be followed by a new model and the machine has been removed from Apple’s online storefront, according to reporting that first surfaced March 26–27, 2026. (macrumors.com) Benchmarks and analyst write‑ups published alongside the discontinuation argue Apple is consolidating pro performance into the Mac Studio line, with recent Apple‑silicon Mac Studios now matching or exceeding the Mac Pro on many multithreaded and GPU workloads in real‑world tests. (macworld.com) Bloomberg’s reporting on retention shows Apple issued out‑of‑cycle RSU grants to members of the iPhone Product Design group that industry sources described as “several hundred thousand dollars,” with individual awards reported in the $200,000–$400,000 range and structured to vest over four years. (bloomberg.com) Indian outlets translating the Bloomberg figures reported those RSU awards as roughly Rs 1.9–3.8 crore, with some articles citing a top‑end rounded figure of about Rs 3.76–3.7 crore for select grants. (in.mashable.com) Apple this week also hired Lilian Rincon—previously a Google vice president who led Google Shopping and worked on Assistant—as vice president of product marketing for artificial intelligence, a role that Axios and Reuters say reports into Greg Joswiak and will encompass product marketing and product management across Apple’s AI platforms. (axios.com) News coverage tying the hiring and retention moves to competitive pressure cites an ongoing wave of Apple alumni joining AI hardware efforts—reports and industry trackers note OpenAI and related teams have recruited dozens of former Apple hardware and design employees over the past year, and Apple’s actions are described by multiple outlets as a direct response. (cnbc.com)