Apple, renowned for its innovative consumer electronics, is reported to be branching into artificial intelligence (AI).
Recent reports suggest the company is developing a project dubbed ‘Project ACDC,’ (Apple Chips in Data Centre) with the goal of creating specialized AI chips for data centres.
The AI race
AI applications are becoming ever more essential in our daily routines, prompting tech giants to vie for dominance in this arena. Apple, previously trailing behind its rivals in AI, is now channelling substantial investments to bridge the gap. Project ACDC marks Apple’s strategic endeavour to position itself as a key contender in AI processing.
The role of AI microchips
Traditionally, data centres have depended on general-purpose processors, like Intel Xeon or AMD EPYC, to manage diverse workloads. AI workloads, however, demand unique features such as extensive parallelism and high computational throughput. Specialized AI chips are crucial to meet these demands.
Apple’s AI chips, designed specifically for data centre servers, aim to efficiently expedite AI tasks. These chips will facilitate capabilities such as natural language processing, image recognition, and recommendation systems. With the development of its own AI chips, Apple seeks to secure a competitive edge in the AI technology race.
Collaborating with Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co.
Apple is said to be partnering with Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. (TSMC) to design and produce AI chips. TSMC, a top semiconductor manufacturer, is recognized for its cutting-edge process technology. Although the release timeline for these chips is not specified, their development underscores Apple’s dedication to AI.
WWDC 2024 expectations
Rumors indicate that Apple may reveal AI-based features enabled by its new chips at the Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) in June 2024. Should this be accurate, it could mark a significant milestone for Apple’s AI initiatives.
In conclusion, Apple’s Project ACDC signifies an aggressive move towards AI supremacy. With ongoing investments in generative AI, we can anticipate significant advancements in the near future.