For complex iPhone AI tasks, Apple will use cloud-based servers running M-series chips

2 min readUpdated May 24, 2025May 10, 20248:25 AM

In this article (5)

Apple is planning on having more complex AI tasks for iPhones, iPads, and Macs get sent through the cloud to data centers using servers powered by Apple’s powerful in-house chips. Less complicated AI tasks will be handled directly on-device which will make them faster and more secure. According to a report in Bloomberg written by the news agency’s chief Apple correspondent Mark Gurman, the first chips to be used to power the servers in the data centers will be the M2 Ultra. That chip is currently used to run the Mac Pro and Mac Studio.

The scuttlebutt calls for Apple to eventually develop an M4 Ultra chip to power the servers in the data centers. Apparently Apple had come up with a plan to use its own chips and cloud-based servers to run complex AI tasks three years ago but decided to accelerate the timeline once OpenAI kicked off the latest AI craze with the ChatGPT chatbot. In December 2022, when ChatGPT first started to become known to the public, Gmail developer Paul Buchheit said that AI will do to internet search what Google did to the Yellow Pages. Namely, make the older technology obsolete.

Apple will reportedly use the M2 Ultra chip to power the first servers used in the data centers

On June 10th Apple will kick off WWDC 2024 and the keynote held on that day will preview the AI changes that Apple is planning for iOS 18 and Siri. It is being billed as the largest iOS update ever and we could see things like text summarization, AI-based search options, and document analysis on Safari, Siri, Messages, Mail, and Spotlight Search.

If you’re like me, you can’t wait to see how Siri is affected by Apple’s AI initiative. The virtual digital assistant, originally launched with the iPhone 4s in 2011, soon found itself not as useful as Google Assistant with too many responses consisting of excepts from three websites. Hopefully the use of AI will help Siri deliver more precise responses to queries.

AdvertisementAdvertise with usMobile 320×100

Questions & Answers

Which specific M-series chip will initially power the cloud-based servers for complex AI tasks?

The M2 Ultra chip will be used to power the first servers in the data centres. This chip currently runs devices like the Mac Pro and Mac Studio, and is part of Apple's plan for cloud AI.

What prompted Apple to accelerate its plans for using cloud-based servers for complex AI tasks?

Apple decided to speed up its timeline after OpenAI launched the ChatGPT chatbot, which kicked off the latest AI craze. The company had initially developed this plan three years ago.

What are some of the new AI features expected to be previewed at WWDC 2024 for iOS 18?

Expected new features include text summarization, AI-based search options, and document analysis. These capabilities will reportedly be integrated across apps like Safari, Siri, Messages, Mail, and Spotlight Search.

When will Apple officially preview the planned AI changes for iOS 18 and Siri?

Apple will preview these AI changes on June 10th. This will happen during the keynote speech that kicks off WWDC 2024, which is expected to show the largest iOS update ever.

Reader pulse

Is Apple's server strategy smart?

21,430 votes so far