People look at MacBook Airs at the World Trade Center Apple Store in Manhattan, New York City, USA. /Reuters
Apple is nearing the production of M4 computer processors which would have artificial intelligence (AI) processing capabilities and plans to update every Mac model with it, Bloomberg News reported on Thursday, citing people with knowledge of the matter.
The company is aiming to release the updated computers late this year and early next year, and they would include new iMacs, a low-end 14-inch MacBook Pro, high-end 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pros, and Mac minis, the report said.
PC makers have been in a slump since the end of a pandemic-era boom in sales for working and learning from home. The industry has pinned its hopes of a revival on a new generation of laptops and desktops with more powerful chips that can handle AI tasks such as summarizing documents without having to send data to the cloud.
"Mac computers could ride AI wave or be left behind." Part of an early model central processing unit is seen on display at the Computer History Museum in Mountain View, California, USA, as the museum celebrates Mac's 40th birthday, January 19, 2024. /CFP
Intel is preparing such chips, as are rivals including Qualcomm. Reuters has reported that Nvidia also plans to use its strength in AI chips to jump into the PC market with a new chip as early as 2025.
Apple is planning to highlight the AI processing capabilities of the new chips, and how they'll integrate with the next version of macOS, according to the Bloomberg report.
Apple did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment.
"Mac computers could ride AI wave or be left behind." Part of an early model central processing unit is seen on display at the Computer History Museum in Mountain View, California, USA, as the museum celebrates Mac's 40th birthday, January 19, 2024. /CFP
The news comes ahead of Apple's annual developers conference in June, and reports said the iPhone maker could announce a new AI partnership and unveil significant changes to the iOS.
They can navigate a cell network and stimulate individual cells in a targeted manner.
Mac sales fell 27 percent in Apple's most recent fiscal year that ended in September. Apple in October unveiled the current-generation M3 chips and new MacBook Pro and iMac computers that were getting them.