Apple reportedly building server packed with M-series Ultra chips for AI

传苹果正在研发搭载 M 系列 Ultra 芯片的 AI 服务器

Apple is working on an AI server that would use Apple’s high-performance M-series Ultra chips found in Mac desktops. The potential product’s expected release in 2029 would mark the first Apple server to hit the market in nearly two decades—and could capitalize on the surging popularity of Apple hardware among AI developers.

苹果公司正在研发一款 AI 服务器，该服务器将采用常见于 Mac 台式机中的高性能 M 系列 Ultra 芯片。这款潜在产品预计于 2029 年发布，这将是苹果近二十年来首次向市场推出服务器产品，并有望借此利用苹果硬件在 AI 开发人员中日益增长的受欢迎程度。

The enterprise server would come in two configurations that include either two or four of Apple’s future M8 Ultra chips, according to The Information. The project reportedly received support from new Apple CEO John Ternus when it began a year ago, back when Ternus led Apple’s hardware engineering efforts.

据《The Information》报道，这款企业级服务器将提供两种配置，分别包含两颗或四颗苹果未来的 M8 Ultra 芯片。据称，该项目在一年前启动时就得到了苹果新任首席执行官约翰·特努斯（John Ternus）的支持，当时他正负责领导苹果的硬件工程工作。

This revelation coincides with booming sales for Apple’s Mac mini and Mac Studio as AI developers and companies snap up the Mac computers to run AI workloads. The popularity of such computing devices that rely on Apple’s M-series Ultra chips has undoubtedly encouraged Apple’s pursuit of an enterprise server using the same chips.

这一消息传出之际，苹果的 Mac mini 和 Mac Studio 销量正处于激增状态，因为 AI 开发人员和企业正争相购买这些 Mac 电脑来运行 AI 工作负载。这些依赖苹果 M 系列 Ultra 芯片的计算设备所展现出的受欢迎程度，无疑鼓励了苹果开发使用同类芯片的企业级服务器。

The Information reported that AI companies like OpenAI have bought “tens of thousands” of Mac minis and Mac Studios to train AI agents through trial-and-error reinforcement learning, while Anthropic has also rented Mac minis from Amazon Web Services. Apple is also considering connecting its M8 chips using data center networking equipment from Nvidia.

《The Information》报道称，OpenAI 等 AI 公司已经购买了“数以万计”的 Mac mini 和 Mac Studio，用于通过试错强化学习来训练 AI 智能体，而 Anthropic 也从亚马逊云科技（AWS）租用了 Mac mini。苹果还在考虑使用英伟达的数据中心网络设备来连接其 M8 芯片。

The potential use of Nvidia’s NVLink Fusion technology comes as sources told The Information that Apple and Nvidia have been holding conversations about how Apple could leverage Nvidia’s technology for the company’s AI push. The Information cautioned that the project could still be canceled or go ahead without incorporating Nvidia’s technology.

关于可能使用英伟达的 NVLink Fusion 技术，有消息人士告诉《The Information》，苹果和英伟达一直在进行商谈，探讨苹果如何利用英伟达的技术来推动其 AI 战略。不过《The Information》也提醒称，该项目仍有可能被取消，或者在不整合英伟达技术的情况下继续推进。

But if it moves ahead, it would mark a notable return for Apple to the enterprise server market following the retirement of Apple’s Xserve in January 2011. If Apple’s AI server eventually comes to fruition, it could be a notable part of John Ternus’ legacy. Ternus officially took over as Apple CEO from Tim Cook on September 1, after the latter had served in the leadership position for 15 years.

但如果项目顺利推进，这将标志着苹果在 2011 年 1 月停产 Xserve 后，正式重返企业级服务器市场。如果苹果的 AI 服务器最终问世，这可能会成为约翰·特努斯职业生涯中的重要成就。特努斯于 9 月 1 日正式从蒂姆·库克手中接过苹果首席执行官的职位，此前库克已担任该领导职务 15 年。

But Apple’s server plans and the growing popularity of Mac computers during the AI boom also face a notable supply chain challenge shared across the tech industry—the ongoing shortage of memory chips because of companies rushing to build AI data centers. As Ars has documented, the memory shortage has led to significant price increases for many consumer electronics, like gaming devices and many flagship smartphones, not to mention a wide range of Apple products.

然而，苹果的服务器计划以及 Mac 电脑在 AI 热潮中的日益普及，也面临着整个科技行业共同的供应链挑战——由于各公司竞相建设 AI 数据中心，导致内存芯片持续短缺。正如 Ars 所记录的那样，内存短缺已导致许多消费电子产品（如游戏设备和许多旗舰智能手机）的价格大幅上涨，更不用说苹果旗下的各类产品了。