Apple is working with Broadcom to develop its first server chip specially designed for artificial intelligence processing, The Information reports Wednesday, citing “people with direct knowledge of the matter.”
Reuters:
The reported move would align the iPhone maker with other big technology companies that have developed their own chips to power compute-heavy AI services and reduce reliance on Nvidia’s pricey and short-in-supply processors.
Apple’s AI chip is internally code-named Baltra and is expected to be ready for mass production by 2026, the report said.
To make the chip, the company is planning to use one of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co’s most advanced manufacturing processes, known as N3P, the report said…
Apple had said at its annual developer conference in June that it plans to use its own server chips to help power AI features on its devices.
MacDailyNews Take: Google also works with Broadcom for its AI chips. In May 2023, Apple inked a multibillion-dollar deal with Broadcom to develop 5G radio frequency components — including FBAR filters — and cutting-edge wireless connectivity components made in the USA.
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I am absolutely not an AI expert, but I just don’t see Apple at the forefront of AI and doubt that what they will come up with will be better than what NVidia has.
It doesn’t have to be “better”. In e.g. a phone where you have one chip and small battery and weight is essential too, a better chip creates a better user experience for the user. Not so in a datacenter —there a it doesn’t matter how good a single chip is. if it’s worse, you just need more of them to produce just as good a service for the users. In the end, there cost is what matters. Apple’s chip doesn’t need to be better, it just needs to be more cost efficient for Apple to design and manufacture rather than pay the very high profit margins for NVIDIA’s chips. Another thing one needs to take in to account is the lifetime electricity consumption, but energy efficiency is where Apple shines compared to NVIDIA already.