Apple hits pause on its plan to compete with Amazon, Microsoft and Google cloud
reportedly explored a venture into the public cloud market, intending to launch its own cloud services powered by its high-performance M-series chips to rival giants like Amazon Web Services (AWS), Microsoft Azure and Google Cloud. However, according to a report from The Information (via macrumors), the company has seemingly put this initiative on hold.
Apple's Project ACDC: An affordable, efficient cloud
The report said that the initiative, internally known as Project ACDC (Apple Chips in Data Centers), aimed to offer developers direct access to Apple's proprietary M-series chips. The core idea was to provide a more affordable and more efficient alternative to traditional cloud platforms, which typically rely on Intel processors or GPU-heavy servers.
Apple's M-series chips are renowned for their computing efficiency and AI inferencing capabilities, making them an attractive foundation for a new cloud service.
The report said that Apple already utilises its M-series chips beyond its consumer devices like Macs and iPads. The company began testing these chips in data centers with the introduction of Private Cloud Compute (PCC), designed to handle complex AI queries when on-device processing isn't sufficient.
Furthermore, key Apple services such as
Siri
, Photos, and Music have also gained access to M-series chips to enhance performance, particularly in areas like search, potentially laying the groundwork for a much-needed upgrade to Siri.
Project ACDC is said to be envisioned as an Apple-centric initiative, with plans to offer the service to developers via its existing Developer Relations team. This would enable developers to design iOS and macOS apps directly on Apple's silicon, reducing their reliance on expensive third-party GPUs.
Leadership departure leading to uncertain future
The Information reports that the future of Project ACDC remains uncertain, especially after Michael Abbott, the executive who previously led the initiative, left Apple in 2023. While discussions reportedly continued into early 2024, no concrete plans for a public launch have materialised.
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