Katarzyna Petru
Apple has just announced a vast collaboration with Google, under which Gemini models are set to power future AI features in the company's ecosystem. But this is just part of a larger plan. According to the latest information provided by Ming-Chi Kuo, Apple is expected to start production of its own AI chips for servers later 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. Furthermore, Apple plans to launch its own data centers in 2027. This is a clear signal that the company expects a sharp increase in demand for AI – both localized on devices and cloud-supported.
Although there has been talk of Apple’s server AI chips for years, it is only now starting to look like a real, concrete plan rather than a futuristic rumor.
Silicon is currently Apple's strongest chip
Apple has recently faced a lot of criticism for delays in AI and inconsistent software quality. However, one thing that cannot be denied is that its team responsible for chips is at the absolute forefront worldwide.
Apple Silicon has powered iPhones, iPads, and MacBooks for years, regularly 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 the N1 wireless connectivity chip. Now, this same team is tackling AI server chips. And this is where Apple's real advantage over the competition may lie.
Servers Under Full Control
According to Kuo's predictions, the first batches of chips will be produced even before the new data centers are launched. This means that Apple will likely start testing and implementing them on a smaller scale in the already existing infrastructure. This is a very "Apple-like" approach – complete control over hardware, software, and now also over the AI server backend. In the long run, this may mean:
better optimization 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 centers, it could create a closed AI ecosystem that no one else has today. This is exactly the same pattern that worked before with iPhones and Macs.
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 off this plan, its biggest advantage may not be the speed of implementing innovations, but the consistency and complete control over the technology. And that might be more important in the long run than being first.
