Apple’s autonomous‑vehicle effort never fully materialized, yet it may have been the catalyst behind the extraordinary capabilities of its on‑device AI chips. Early in the self‑driving platform’s development, Apple recognized the need for robust AI processing power directly on the device. Although the dedicated car processor was ultimately abandoned, as Mark Gurman details in his latest Power On newsletter, the project spurred the creation of the Neural Engine, which now underpins Apple’s on‑device AI performance.
The Neural Engine debuted alongside the iPhone X and the A11 Bionic processor. In its initial incarnation it powered computer‑vision tasks such as Face ID, Animoji, and augmented‑reality experiences. By establishing a strong foundation for on‑device AI, Apple positioned itself as an early pioneer, extending the Neural Engine to its desktop‑class M‑series chips. While Apple’s AI software initiatives have trailed many industry rivals, its hardware remains exceptionally capable, enabling the company to emphasize privacy by processing more data locally rather than sending it to the cloud.
Looking ahead, Apple intends to make its AI hardware a central pillar of its strategy. According to Gurman, the company will omit the Pro, Max, and Ultra variants of the forthcoming M6 chip and instead accelerate work on the M7, slated for release in the first half of 2027 with markedly enhanced Neural Engine capabilities. The anticipated M7 Ultra is expected to serve as the foundation for a new Apple server offering, supporting up to 1.5 TB of RAM.
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