Apple Launches Project To Develop AI Chips for Data Centers – MediaNama.com
MEDIANAMA
Technology and policy in India
Apple is working on developing its own AI chips to run artificial intelligence software in data centres, reported CNBC. Codenamed “ACDC” (Apple Chips in Data Center), the project was first reported by the Wall Street Journal, and has been underway for several years but lacks a clear timeline for completion.
Apple has reportedly partnered with Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. (TSMC) to design and produce these AI chips. However, it remains uncertain whether these efforts have yielded positive results yet.
How will the Apple AI chips work?
The Apple server chips will focus on AI inference instead of training AI models where the inference process is used for training LLM models on how to conclude new data inputs. At present, chip maker Nvidia dominates this market, with experts expecting Nvidia to maintain that dominance in AI training chips.
This comes at a time when other major tech giants like Microsoft and Meta have also been investing heavily in developing custom AI inference chips to reduce reliance on traditional chip suppliers. Earlier in April this year, Intel revealed plans to launch a new version of the Gaudi AI chip called ‘Gaudi 3’ to take on Nvidia. Apple appears to be following a similar strategy with Project ACDC.
“We continue to feel very bullish about our opportunity in generative AI and we’re making significant investments,” Apple CEO Tim Cook said, as reported by The Financial Express. Earlier in February this year, he stated the company would make an AI-related announcement later this year, which analysts anticipate will happen at Apple’s annual Worldwide Developers Conference in June.
During Apple’s latest earnings call last week, Cook reiterated the company’s belief in “the transformative power and promise of AI” and claimed Apple has key advantages that will differentiate it in this emerging field.
The consumer tech giant has faced criticism for lagging behind rivals like Microsoft in the AI race. Microsoft has poured billions into AI research, development and infrastructure over the past few years.
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