Apple trained two AI models using Google chips, research report reveals
Apple relied on chips designed by Google rather than market leader Nvidia to build two key components of its artificial intelligence (AI) software infrastructure for its upcoming suite of AI tools and features, according to an Apple research report published Monday, July 29.
Apple’s decision to rely on Google’s cloud infrastructure is notable because Nvidia produces the most sought-after AI processors.
Including chips from Google, Amazon.com and other cloud computing companies, Nvidia has about 80 percent of the market.
In the research report, Apple didn’t explicitly say it wasn’t using Nvidia chips, but the description of the hardware and software infrastructure behind its AI tools and features made no mention of Nvidia hardware.
Apple declined to comment Monday.
The iPhone maker said it used two variants of Google’s tensor processing unit (TPU), which are organized into large clusters of chips, to train its AI models.
To build the AI model that will run on iPhones and other devices, Apple used 2,048 TPUv5p chips. For its server AI model, Apple implemented 8,192 TPUv4 processors.
Nvidia does not design TPUs, but focuses on so-called graphics processing units (GPUs), which are widely used for AI applications.
Unlike Nvidia, which sells its chips and systems as standalone products, Google sells access to TPUs through its Google Cloud Platform. Customers interested in buying access will have to build software on Google’s cloud platform in order to use the chips.
Apple is rolling out parts of Apple Intelligence to its beta users this week.
Reuters reported in June that TPU chips are being used, but Apple only revealed in its research report on Monday how much the company relies on Google hardware.
Google did not respond to a request for comment, while Nvidia declined to comment.
Apple engineers indicated in the article that it would be possible to create even larger, more advanced models than the two models discussed in the article using Google’s chips.
Apple unveiled a host of new AI features at its developer conference in June, including the integration of OpenAI’s ChatGPT technology into its software.
Shares of the Cupertino, California-based company fell 0.1 percent to $218.24 (about Rs. 18,272) in regular trading on Monday.
© Thomson Reuters 2024
