Apple Joins AI Data Center Tech Consortium

Apple Joins Consortium for Advanced AI Data Center Chip Connectivity

Apple has become a member of a collaborative group focused on the development of cutting-edge technology designed to interconnect chips within AI data centers.

Introducing the Ultra Accelerator Link Consortium

The consortium, known as the Ultra Accelerator Link Consortium, is currently establishing a new standard termed UALink. This standard is specifically engineered to connect the AI accelerator chips that are increasingly prevalent in modern server farms.

As of Tuesday, Apple now holds a position on the consortium’s board of directors, alongside industry giants such as Alibaba and semiconductor firm Synopsys.

Apple's Perspective on UALink

Becky Loop, Apple’s director of platform architecture, stated that UALink “demonstrates significant potential” in resolving connectivity issues and fostering new avenues for expanding AI capabilities and meeting growing demands.

Loop further emphasized, “Apple has a demonstrated commitment to innovation and collaboration that propels our industry forward, and we are pleased to be joining the UALink board of directors.”

The Purpose and Foundation of UALink

The primary goal of UALink is to facilitate connections between a diverse range of chips, including GPUs and custom-designed solutions. This aims to accelerate the processes of training, refining, and deploying AI models.

Built upon open standards, notably AMD’s Infinity Fabric, the initial UALink products are anticipated to become available within the next two years.

Consortium Membership and Notable Absence

The UALink consortium boasts a comprehensive membership including Intel, AMD, Google, AWS, Microsoft, and Meta. Notably absent from the consortium is Nvidia, the leading manufacturer of AI accelerators.

This absence is likely due to Nvidia’s existing proprietary interconnect technology, NVLink, which serves a similar purpose for linking chips within data center clusters.

Apple's Increased Investment in AI Infrastructure

Apple’s involvement in UALink coincides with the company’s escalating investments in infrastructure to support Apple Intelligence, its suite of AI-powered product features.

Reports from The Wall Street Journal indicate that Apple is currently developing a new server chip intended to enhance the efficiency of its AI data centers.

Recent Feedback on Apple Intelligence

The initial reception of some Apple Intelligence features has been varied. (Colleague Sarah Perez described them as “boring and practical.”) Last week, Apple announced an update to its AI-summarized news alerts feature following reports of inaccurate headlines, including a false claim regarding tennis player Rafael Nadal.

TechCrunch offers a newsletter dedicated to AI! Sign up here to receive it in your inbox every Wednesday.