According to The Information, Apple is planning to get back into the server market and may pair up with Nvidia to make it happen. Apple retired its Xserve line in 2011 and has largely left enterprise machines to other manufacturers since. But the growing demand for compute power as the AI industry continues to expand has apparently led the company to believe there is an opening for its powerful but efficient ARM-based M processors.
Its Mac Mini and Mac Studio have proven popular with AI developers, which has led to shortages. The server product, whether it's called Xserve or something else, likely won't debut until 2029. Word is that it will run on two or four M8 Ultra chips, depending on the model. Apple only just announced the M6 in August, so the M8 line is still a ways out.
It's also rumored that Apple's servers could incorporate Nvidia's NVLink Fusion technology, which connects multiple chips together so they can operate as one. While the two companies have historically had a frosty relationship behind the scenes, recently Apple turned to Nvidia chips to power its revamped Siri servers. Incorporating NVLink could lead to further collaboration between the two, though plans could still change.
The move would represent a significant strategic pivot for Apple, which has traditionally focused on consumer and prosumer markets rather than enterprise infrastructure. With the AI boom driving unprecedented demand for high-performance, energy-efficient compute, Apple's M-series architecture — which has consistently outperformed Intel and AMD in performance-per-watt metrics — could find a natural home in data centers.
A potential Apple-Nvidia partnership on servers would also carry geopolitical implications, as both companies navigate complex export control landscapes affecting AI chip availability worldwide.
