Apple is reportedly collaborating with Foxconn, its primary iPhone manufacturing partner, to produce new Apple Intelligence servers in Taiwan, according to Nikkei Asia. This move signifies Apple’s commitment to expanding its AI capabilities and enhancing its Apple Intelligence features.
Increased server capacity translates to greater processing power, enabling users to perform more complex tasks within Apple Intelligence. Current Apple servers utilize the M2 Ultra chip, but future iterations are expected to leverage the power of the new M4 chip series. While the specific M4 variant (base, Pro, Max, or a yet-to-be-announced Ultra) remains uncertain, leaked Geekbench scores suggest the M4 Max significantly outperforms the M2 Ultra, hinting at a substantial performance upgrade for both new and potentially upgraded existing servers.
Apple Intelligence on iPhone 15 Pro.Apple Intelligence features on the iPhone 15 Pro.
Foxconn, already heavily involved in producing Nvidia AI servers, faces potential capacity constraints in accommodating Apple’s server production demands. Following the surge in popularity of AI tools like ChatGPT, Apple’s foray into the AI landscape with its Apple Intelligence features has been relatively measured, with a staggered rollout still underway.
This investment in server infrastructure underscores Apple’s ambition to deepen its engagement with artificial intelligence, potentially offering more sophisticated features beyond on-device processing capabilities. Apple’s Private Cloud Compute models enable devices to access enhanced processing power without compromising user data privacy. Data processed on the servers is not stored or shared with Apple, ensuring confidentiality. The powerful M2 Ultra chips currently powering the servers process the requested tasks and return the results directly to the user’s device.
Many of the key Apple Intelligence features are slated to debut with the iOS 18.2 update in December. This includes Genmoji, allowing users to create personalized emojis, and Image Playground for in-app image generation. Furthermore, Siri is poised to receive a ChatGPT-powered upgrade, significantly enhancing the visibility and functionality of AI on iPhones.
