Apple is Using Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Chip Design

Johny Srouji, Apple’s senior vice president of hardware technologies, made this bold statement during a compelling speech in Belgium, where he was honored with an award from Imec, a respected independent semiconductor research organization.

In remarks shared behind closed doors last month, Srouji articulated how Apple aims to harness generative AI to streamline the design of its custom chips, an integral part of its devices. In revealing an exciting new direction for the tech giant, his insightful presentation, later reviewed by Reuters, chronicled the evolution of Apple’s chip development.

This traces the lineage from the very first A4 chip in the 2010 iPhone to the cutting-edge chips powering its Mac desktops and Vision Pro headset today. Srouji underscored a critical lesson learned through this journey: the necessity of employing the most advanced tools available for chip design. 

This includes leveraging the latest chip design software developed by electronic design automation (EDA) firms, which are now competing to integrate AI capabilities into their platforms.

“EDA companies play a vital role in navigating the complexities of our chip design,” Srouji stated. “Generative AI techniques possess immense potential to help us achieve more design work in less time, translating into a significant boost in productivity.”

He also emphasized the importance of bold decision-making, illustrating this with Apple’s strategic move to transition its Mac computers from Intel chips to its own innovative solutions in 2020. 

This transformative shift was executed with complete commitment, no contingency plans, no fallback options, underscoring Apple’s fearless approach to innovation. “Transitioning the Mac to Apple Silicon was an audacious bet,” Srouji explained. 

“We didn’t have a backup plan or a split lineup strategy; we went all in, backed by an extraordinary software effort.” This unwavering commitment underscores Apple’s dedication to pushing the boundaries of technology and setting new standards in the industry.