Apple Eyes Return to Server Market with AI-Powered Nvidia Partnership
Apple is reportedly considering Nvidia's NVLink Fusion technology for its planned AI inference server, marking a potential return to the server market. The iPhone maker has been developing an enterprise AI server for AI developers, businesses, and governments since last year.
The server will come in versions featuring either two or four M8 Ultra chips, Apple's highest-performance processors, according to The Information. Apple last sold dedicated server hardware under its Xserve line, which it discontinued in 2011 after shifting its focus to standard Mac hardware and consumer devices.
Relations between the two tech giants have been strained for nearly two decades following an alleged defect in Nvidia graphics chips that caused widespread MacBook failures and led Apple to sever ties. However, Apple is considering using NVLink Fusion to connect M8 chips in its planned AI server, which could be launched as early as 2029.