Apple might start developing its own AI chips - here’s what that means for Mac lovers
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New leaks coming from Chinese social media have claimed thatAppleis planning to start development of its own dedicated AI chips in the near future - but it’s not the hotly-anticipatedM4 chipthat I’m talking about here.
AlthoughApple has been making waves in the AI spacerecently with its upgraded Neural Engine (a dedicatedneural processing unitfor handling AI-related tasks on Apple devices) as seen in its powerful new M3 chip, this leak makes specific reference toserver AI processors- in other words, chips to power datacenters that run cloud-based AI tools. Popular onlinechatbotChatGPT, for example, runs the bulk of its operations in the cloud rather than directly on your device, which is why it requires an internet connection to use.
Apple looks to be hedging its bets when it comes to AI - investing both in cloud AI technology and on-device machine learning capabilities, with theM4 chip promising to bring the entire Mac range up to speedin today’s world of ‘AI PCs’. But what does this actually mean for consumers?
AI for the Apple guy
Well, the current rumor (which originates from well-known Apple leaker ‘Phone Chip Expert’ on the Chinese site Weibo) states that Apple is working with chipmaker TSMC to develop the AI chip on a new 3nm process, but that production isn’t likely to start until the latter half of 2025 at the earliest. Basically, we shouldn’t expect to see this making a huge impact straight away.
The upcoming range of new M4 Mac products likely won’t be affected by this decision, with Apple still aiming to remain competitive withIntel and Qualcomm’s AI PC efforts.
However, Apple users of all sorts could stand to benefit from the company’s new interest in cloud-based AI - with its own powered-up servers for offloading AI workloads on iPhones, iPads, and Macs combined with more powerful on-device AI capabilities, Apple could be poised to become a market dominator offering best-in-class AI services to everyday users.
You might be surprised just how much AI there already is in youriPhone 15orMacBook Air. Apple’s Neural Engine tech has been lurking in its phones since the A11 Bionic chip seen in theiPhone 8, powering staple iOS features such as Face ID and Animoji. As AI-powered software becomes more common - it’s already wormed its way deep intoAdobe Photoshop, for example - the need for competitive hardware in both consumer devices and data centers is on the rise.
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As always with leaks such as this, it’s wise to take it with a pinch of salt - while Phone Chip Expert is a relatively reputable leaker, that doesn’t instantly guarantee that this information is legit.
Still, I reckon it’s at least somewhat accurate; while a development like this will no doubt cause further struggles for TSMC’s already-burdened manufacturing and supply lines, the fact is that local on-chip AI isn’t yet powerful enough to properly handle high-level large language models - so investing in its own AI servers is the perfect way to deliver the best possible AI experience to users.
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Christian is TechRadar’s UK-based Computing Editor. He came to us from Maximum PC magazine, where he fell in love with computer hardware and building PCs. He was a regular fixture amongst our freelance review team before making the jump to TechRadar, and can usually be found drooling over the latest high-end graphics card or gaming laptop before looking at his bank account balance and crying.
Christian is a keen campaigner for LGBTQ+ rights and the owner of a charming rescue dog named Lucy, having adopted her after he beat cancer in 2021. She keeps him fit and healthy through a combination of face-licking and long walks, and only occasionally barks at him to demand treats when he’s trying to work from home.
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