Apple's Vice President of Hardware Technologies, Johny Srouji, recently highlighted the company's strategic use of generative AI to accelerate the design of its custom chips. Speaking in Belgium, Srouji emphasized the evolution of Apple's chip development, from the first A4 chip in the 2010 iPhone to the latest chips for Mac desktops and Vision Pro headsets.
Srouji underscored the importance of utilizing cutting-edge tools in chip design, particularly the latest software from electronic design automation (EDA) companies. Leading EDA firms like Cadence Design Systems and Synopsys are actively integrating AI into their products to enhance design capabilities. Srouji noted that generative AI holds significant potential to boost productivity by enabling more design work in less time.
He also shared insights into Apple's bold strategy of transitioning its Mac computers from Intel chips to its own designs in 2020, a move made without any contingency plans. Srouji stated that this transition was a significant gamble for Apple, requiring a comprehensive effort, especially in software development.
