Compile | A pen
Edit | Yun Peng
Zhidong reported on May 10 that, according to Bloomberg, Apple will launch AI functions this year through data centers equipped with self-developed chips. Mark Gurman revealed that Apple will deploy high-end chips (similar to the chips it designed for Macs) in cloud computing servers to handle advanced AI tasks on Apple devices, while some of the simpler AI-related tasks will be handled directly by the built-in chips of iPhones, iPads and Macs to improve efficiency and responsiveness.
Apple proposed a plan to use its own chips to handle AI tasks in the cloud about three years ago, but after the launch of OpenAI's ChatGPT and sparked an AI boom, Apple was forced to accelerate the pace of research and development to make this plan happen as soon as possible. According to the news, Apple has invested hundreds of millions of dollars in the project in the past three years, but its products still have room for improvement. For users interested in chatbots, Apple has already held discussions with Google and OpenAI, and plans to apply chatbot technology to iPhones and iPads.
Bloomberg reports that Apple's first AI server chip will be the M2 Ultra, which will be launched in 2023 with Mac Pro and Mac Studio computers. Now, Apple is evaluating whether to adopt the M4 chip in future versions of AI servers.
For now, Apple plans to use its own data centers to support the operation of its products and services in the cloud, and in the future, it may rely on external facilities, such as iCloud and other services. Luca Maestri, Apple's chief financial officer, said, "We have our own data center capacity, but we also leverage third-party capacity. This strategy has proven effective in the past, and as a result, the company plans to continue this model. ”
According to Bloomberg, this approach represents a shift in Apple's mind. For years, Apple has prioritized on-device AI as a better way to ensure security and privacy, and members involved in the creation of Apple's AI server-on-chip project (codenamed ACDC) revealed that there are components already in the processor to protect users' privacy, and the company can use the Secure Enclave method to isolate data from security vulnerabilities.
Mark Gurman mentioned that Apple's on-device AI capabilities are still an important part of its AI strategy, but some new features on the device side may require more powerful and efficient processing power to be realized, which requires Apple's latest chips to support, such as the A18 chip, which debuted in the iPhone in 2023, and the M4 chip, which recently debuted in the iPad Pro.
At present, Apple is in the process of upgrading its product line, and one of the initiatives is the introduction of a new generation of processors - M4. Products such as the Mac mini, iMac and MacBook Pro will reportedly start using the M4 chip later this year, and next year, the chip will be used in more products, including the MacBook Air, Mac Studio and Mac Pro, among others.
Apple CEO Tim Cook said: "We believe that AI has transformative power and great promise, and we believe that Apple has the advantages that will set us apart in this new era, such as our ability to seamlessly integrate hardware, software and services to provide a better user experience for our users." ”
Conclusion: Apple's AI is poised for development, but its challenges cannot be ignored
In today's digital era, AI has become one of the core tracks that technology giants are vying for, and Apple is no exception. In Apple's future AI strategy, self-developed chips may play an important role. Starting with the upcoming launch of the first AI server equipped with the M2 Ultra chip, to the introduction of the M4 chip, Apple has integrated AI technology into its product ecosystem through the integration of self-developed chips and AI functions, enhancing its competitiveness in the smart device market.
However, while Apple has made some achievements in the field of AI, the challenges it faces cannot be ignored. With the continuous advancement of AI technology, market competition has become more and more fierce, and users' demand for intelligent products and services is also increasing. In addition, the development of AI technology has raised many ethical and privacy issues. Among them, the large-scale collection and application of personal data has aroused users' concerns about data privacy and security.
In the future, Apple still needs to strengthen technological innovation to improve the performance and user experience of its products, while paying attention to data privacy and security, in order to cope with the ethical challenges brought about by the development of AI technology and ensure its leading position and user trust in the intelligent era.