In-Short
- Apple chooses Google’s chips over Nvidia for its AI infrastructure.
- Google’s tensor processing units (TPUs) are central to Apple’s AI features.
- Apple’s AI advancements include improved Siri and AI-powered Writing Tools.
- Investors show a tepid response to Apple’s AI strategy with minimal stock movement.
Summary of Apple’s AI Infrastructure Update
Apple has made a strategic move in its AI infrastructure by opting for Google’s tensor processing units (TPUs) instead of the widely-used GPUs from Nvidia. This decision is significant as Nvidia currently dominates the market, with a substantial share in cloud computing services. Apple’s choice to use Google’s chips is seen as a way to reduce hardware dependency.
The details of Apple’s hardware and software AI tools were outlined in a research paper, which notably omitted any mention of Nvidia chips. Apple has remained silent on the matter, leaving room for speculation. The company is leveraging Google’s TPUs in large clusters, with thousands of TPUv4 and TPUv5p chips being used for server-side development and AI model training.
Google’s TPUs differ from Nvidia’s GPUs not only in design but also in availability, as TPUs are exclusively accessible through the Google Cloud Platform. This requires customers to develop their software with Google’s cloud services to utilize the TPUs.
Apple has recently introduced its Apple Intelligence features to beta users, enhancing tools like Siri and offering new AI-powered functionalities such as email summarization and voice-to-text transcription. The feedback from real-world usage will help Apple refine its AI features, including potential ChatGPT integration and expanded Siri capabilities.
The extent of Apple’s use of Google hardware was not fully known until the recent research publication. Apple engineers have suggested that the current use of Google’s chips is just the beginning, with the potential for more complex AI models in the future. Despite this news, Apple’s stock saw only a slight dip, indicating a cautious investor stance towards the company’s AI endeavors.
Further Reading and Image Credit
For more in-depth information on Apple’s AI strategy and the use of Google’s chips, readers are encouraged to view the original source. Read the full article here.
Image credit: Medhat Dawoud on Unsplash
