Apple's Innovator Abidur Chowdhury Moves to AI Startup

Post by : Bianca Suleiman

San Francisco – Abidur Chowdhury, a key figure in Apple’s design landscape and known for his impact on the iPhone Air presentation, has departed the company to join an artificial intelligence startup, sources close to the situation reveal. His exit has seemingly surprised many within the team, highlighting his prominent role in Apple's design framework.

Chowdhury earned a Bachelor’s degree in Product Design and Technology from Loughborough University and embarked on his industrial design journey in 2015. After gaining experience at Cambridge Consultants and Curventa, he joined Layer Design in 2017. Post freelance projects, he commenced his journey with Apple in January 2019 as an Industrial Designer.

During his time at Apple, he significantly contributed to the creation of the iPhone Air, focusing on both its design and marketing. He gained further recognition by appearing in the company’s official launch video in September 2025, a notable opportunity for key contributors within Apple.

While some speculate that his departure may be connected to the iPhone Air's upcoming second-generation release in 2027, insiders assert it reflects Chowdhury’s advancing interest in AI technologies. His LinkedIn profile has not yet been updated to reflect this career shift.

Experts suggest that the trend of tech talent, like Chowdhury, migrating to AI startups is indicative of a broader movement towards integrating creativity with advanced technological solutions.