Apple Developing Baltra Processors for AI Servers, Eyeing Major Data Center Upgrades by 2027

According to Bloomberg, Apple is reportedly developing powerful data center-grade processors codenamed Baltra, primarily aimed at serving queries for Apple's AI services. The company is collaborating with Broadcom to design these AI accelerators, which are anticipated to be completed by 2027. Broadcom’s AI processors typically feature systolic arrays of proprietary processing elements and HBM memory stacks, but the report suggests that Apple is exploring various configurations for Baltra, including models with significantly more main processing and graphics cores compared to the current M3 Ultra. The M3 Ultra is already a robust CPU, boasting 24 high-performance and 8 energy-efficient cores. However, data center processors generally eschew hybrid designs. This leaves room for speculation: the report could mean either eight times more general-purpose CPU cores (totaling 256 cores) or eight times more high-performance CPU cores (192 cores). If Apple quadruples the number of graphics clusters in the M3 Ultra, the resulting performance could rival or exceed that of Nvidia’s upcoming GeForce RTX 5090. However, modern AI applications predominantly utilize specialized tensor or matrix units for tasks like training and inference, rather than general-purpose CPU or GPU cores. Given this, if Apple is designing an AI accelerator for inference, it would likely focus on scaling the NPU engine rather than simply increasing the number of CPU cores. Nonetheless, AI servers still require a strong CPU to manage data flows and provide the necessary input to the accelerators. Therefore, the Baltra project might encompass both a robust CPU and a specialized AI accelerator. On the consumer side, Apple's processor roadmap continues to expand. The M5 system-on-chip is set for updates in iPad Pro and MacBook Pro models by the end of 2025, consistent with Apple's tradition of regular hardware advancements. Following the M5, the company is also working on the M6 (internally codenamed Komodo) and M7 (codenamed Borneo), intended to power future generations of iPads and Macs. Additionally, a high-end chip called Sotra is in development, although its specific target devices remain unspecified. Apple is not limiting its in-house processor efforts to just Macs and iPads. The company is also developing custom processors for its wearable devices, including potential augmented reality smart glasses. These efforts underscore Apple's commitment to vertical integration and its drive to optimize hardware for its increasingly sophisticated software and AI applications. To stay informed about the latest developments from Apple, follow Tom's Hardware on Google News and click the "Follow" button to receive up-to-date news, analysis, and reviews in your feed.