It is reported that Apple considered the possibility of launching its own public cloud.
Apple intended to develop an alternative to AWS.
Apple had seriously considered the possibility of offering its own cloud services using technology based on its M-series chips. This initiative, known as Project ACDC (Apple Chips in Data Centers), aimed to compete with industry giants like Amazon Web Services, Microsoft Azure, and Google Cloud, although the project was ultimately shelved.
According to reports, Apple’s goal was to provide a more affordable and efficient alternative to conventional cloud computing platforms that rely on Intel or high-performance servers with GPUs. The proposal involved replacing these technologies with Apple’s M-series chips, which are recognized for their processing efficiency and capability to perform artificial intelligence tasks.
The M-series chips are already used in various Apple applications beyond its Mac and iPad lines, as the company began testing their functionality in data centers with the launch of Private Cloud Compute (PCC). This system manages complex artificial intelligence queries when on-device processing capacity is insufficient. Other Apple services such as Siri, Photos, and Music have also benefited from these improvements, suggesting they could contribute to an updated version of Siri in the future.
The approach of launching the service to developers through the Developer Relations team, rather than creating a new sales team, suggests that Project ACDC would be an Apple-centric initiative. This would make it easier for developers to design applications for iOS and macOS directly on the company’s chips, reducing their reliance on costly GPU components.
Michael Abbott, who was leading Project ACDC, left the company in 2023, but discussions about the future of the project continued at least until early 2024, leaving its direction uncertain. Despite this, Apple has shown interest in increasing its service revenue, and Project ACDC could align with that strategy, in addition to helping the company reduce spending on third-party cloud services, which is around $7 billion annually.
