Katarzyna Petru
Apple has just announced a broad collaboration with Google, under which the Gemini models are set to drive future AI features in the company’s ecosystem. But this is just part of a larger plan. According to the latest information shared by Ming-Chi Kuo, Apple is expected to begin production of its own AI chips designed for servers this year. If these reports are confirmed, we are talking about one of the most important strategic moves by Apple since the transition of Macs to Apple Silicon.
Custom AI Chips. Apple Does It Its Own Way
According to Ming-Chi Kuo, self-designed AI chips for servers will enter mass production in the second half of 2026. Moreover, Apple plans to launch its own data centres in 2027. This is a clear signal that the company expects a significant increase in demand for AI – both that operating locally on devices and that supported by the cloud.
Although there has been talk of Apple’s server AI chips for years, it is only now that it begins to look like a real, concrete plan rather than a futuristic rumour.
Silicon is currently Apple's strongest card
Apple has recently faced quite a bit of criticism for delays in AI and inconsistent software quality. However, one thing that cannot be denied is that its team responsible for chipsets is absolutely world-class.
Apple Silicon has been powering iPhones, iPads, and MacBooks for years, consistently setting new standards for performance and energy efficiency. Recently, the company has gone even further by introducing its own C1 and C1X cellular modems and N1 wireless connectivity chip. Now, the same team is tackling server AI chipsets. And it is here that Apple's true advantage over the competition may lie.
Servers under full control
According to Kuo's predictions, the first batches of chips will be created before the launch of the new data centres. This means that Apple is likely to start testing and implementing them on a smaller scale within the existing infrastructure. This is a very "Apple-like" approach – full control over hardware, software, and now also over the AI server backend. In the long term, this may mean:
better optimisation of AI for specific system functions
lower costs compared to using someone else's infrastructure
greater control over data privacy
a real alternative to Nvidia and external AI accelerator providers
Will this be a game changer?
If Apple actually combines its own AI models, its own server chips, and its own data centres, it may create a closed AI ecosystem that no one else has today. This is exactly the same model that worked before with the iPhones and Macs.
So the question is not "will Apple make its own AI chips," but "how much will this change the balance of power in the market." Because if the company from Cupertino pulls this plan off, its greatest advantage may turn out to be not the speed of deploying innovations, but consistency and full control over the technology. And that can be more important in the long run than being first.
