Will Artificial Intelligence Finally Justify the Capabilities of Apple Silicon Processors?
Since their launch, Apple Silicon processors have delivered exceptional performance while maintaining remarkably low power consumption and thermal footprints.
Apple moved quickly to integrate Apple Silicon into its computers and, later, its iPads. (In the iPhone, Apple-designed processors are nothing new.)
For Apple as a sales-driven manufacturer, the sheer capability of these processors has become something of a problem: performance improvements have grown essentially meaningless. If your 3-year-old device handles every task effortlessly, you have no reason whatsoever to upgrade to the next processor generation.
---
As part of its belated entry into the AI hype, Apple has chosen to differentiate itself through on-device, privacy-focused artificial intelligence.
In doing so, it sets itself apart from existing market competitors, who upload your data to data centers for processing.
As part of this effort, Apple announced a new model called openELM, designed to run directly on your device.
---
In my view, this means Apple has finally found a use for the immense processing power of its chips. The new model will allow it to offer relatively advanced AI capabilities while promising privacy — and at zero infrastructure investment.
Instead of maintaining vast, power-hungry data centers, each customer will run their own tiny AI station on their device. Apple thus delivers an AI experience with an emphasis on privacy and effective cost management.
The move will also justify, down the line, upgrading to newer device models with faster processors — ones that will offer a better user experience in the on-device AI dimension as well.
Screenshot: Apple ML Research