Apple, the iPhone manufacturer, is reportedly looking into developing CPUs exclusively for artificial intelligence (AI) applications in data centers.
Dubbed Project ACDC (Apple Chips in Data Center), the initiative, in progress for several years, lacks a clear timeline, according to the Wall Street Journal. Collaborating with Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Apple has been diligently working on the design and production of these chips. However, the outcome of these efforts remains uncertain.
The focus of Apple’s server chip is expected to be on AI inference, a process where trained machine learning models derive conclusions from new data. This move aligns with similar endeavors by tech giants like Google, who have also ventured into developing their own AI inference server chips to gain autonomy from chip designers.
While some experts suggest that Apple has lagged behind in the AI race compared to rivals like Microsoft, Apple CEO Tim Cook hinted at the company’s significant investment in AI technology. In February, Cook assured investors of forthcoming AI-related announcements, anticipated to be unveiled at the company’s Worldwide Developers Conference scheduled for June.
During Apple’s latest quarterly report, Cook reiterated the company’s commitment to AI investment, emphasizing its transformative potential. “We believe in the transformative power and promise of AI, and we believe we have advantages that will differentiate us in this new era,” he stated, reaffirming Apple’s dedication to advancing AI technology.
