Amid the intensifying competition in AI hardware, the war for talent has spread from software algorithms to industrial design. This week, Apple took an unusual incentive measure, granting its iPhone hardware design team a substantial special stock bonus. The move aims to retain key technical staff and prevent them from being lured away by competitors like OpenAI, which is secretly developing AI hardware devices.

Hundreds of Thousands of "Golden Handcuffs": Full Payout After Four Years of Service

It is reported that this special bonus was issued in the form of restricted stock, with individual amounts reaching up to $400,000. To ensure team stability, Apple set a four-year vesting period, meaning designers must continue working at the company for four years to receive the full value.

This "golden handcuffs" strategy is rare in Apple's history and is typically only used when facing extreme risks of talent loss. The last large-scale distribution of similar bonuses dates back three years.

Apple's current anxiety mainly stems from its former Chief Design Officer, Jony Ive. It is reported that Ive is closely collaborating with OpenAI CEO Sam Altman to redefine consumer-level hardware in the AI era. Due to his high prestige within Apple's design team, OpenAI's appeal to Apple's top designers has never been greater.

Through this high-value bonus distribution, Apple's management has sent a clear signal: it will spare no effort to retain the core design forces supporting the iPhone business empire, ensuring it does not fall behind in the upcoming AI hardware revolution.