Apple might make servers again to cash in on the AI rush

Apple is considering re-entering the server market with a product that may not debut until 2029 and could pair its ARM-based M-series chips with Nvidia's NVLink Fusion interconnect technology, according to The Information. The rumored server would run on two or four M8 Ultra chips depending on the model, following Apple's retirement of its Xserve line in 2011. Apple has already turned to Nvidia chips to power its revamped Siri servers, and its Mac Mini and Mac Studio have proven popular with AI developers, leading to shortages.

According to The Information https://www.theinformation.com/articles/apple-considers-return-server-market-talked-nvidia-use-network-tech , Apple is planning to get back into the server game and might just pair up with Nvidia to make it happen. Apple retired its Xserve line in 2011 and has largely left enterprise machines to other manufacturers since. But the growing demand for compute power as the AI industry continues to expand has apparently led the company to believe there is an opening for its powerful but efficient ARM-based M processors. Its Mac Mini and Mac Studio have proven popular with AI developers https://www.theverge.com/tech/921931/the-mac-mini-and-studio-will-be-hard-to-buy-for-a-while , which has led to shortages. Apple might make servers again to cash in on the AI rush The company could borrow tech from Nvidia to make it happen. The server product, whether it’s called Xserve or something else, likely won’t debut until 2029. Word is that it will run on two or four depending on the model M8 Ultra chips. Apple only just announced the M6 in August https://www.theverge.com/tech/984118/apple-m6-m5-ultra-chip-mac-mini-studio , so the M8 line is a ways out. It’s also rumored that Apple’s servers could incorporate Nvidia’s NVLink Fusion https://www.theverge.com/news/780792/nvidia-intel-investment-pc-chips-data-center tech, which connects multiple chips together so they can operate as one. While the two companies have historically had a frosty relationship behind the scenes, recently Apple turned to Nvidia chips to power its revamped Siri servers. Incorporating NVLink could lead to further collaboration between the two, but plans could still change. Follow topics and authors from this story to see more like this in your personalized homepage feed and to receive email updates.