The future of iPhones might not be as human-made as you think. There’s a possibility that Apple could use artificial intelligence (AI) to design the chips for its upcoming devices. No, we’re not talking about Martians designing iPhones. Instead, the company is considering AI as a powerful tool for speeding up chip design. This potential breakthrough was revealed by Johny Srouji, Apple’s senior vice president of hardware technologies, during a speech in Europe.
He was accepting an award from a semiconductor research group that collaborates with major chip manufacturers worldwide.
According to Reuters, Srouji discussed how Apple’s chip design journey has evolved since the launch of the first A4 chip in 2010. He emphasized that adopting cutting-edge tools, like those from electronic design automation (EDA) companies, has been a key to managing the growing complexity of chip creation. Leading EDA firms like Cadence and Synopsys have enhanced their platforms to handle increasingly intricate chip designs. These companies have been critical in assisting Apple’s chip development efforts.
Looking forward, Srouji suggested that generative AI techniques could be a game-changer, allowing Apple to complete design work much faster and boost productivity significantly. This could be a major step forward in chip innovation, potentially reducing timelines for creating chips used in devices like iPhones, iPads, Apple Watches, Macs, and even the Vision Pro.
Additionally, Srouji pointed out that one of Apple’s most valuable lessons has been to commit fully to bold decisions. A notable example is when Apple replaced Intel chips with its own silicon in Macs back in 2020. This wasn’t a gradual process but a complete shift with no fallback plans. Apple heavily invested in both hardware and software to ensure the success of this transition, a decision that has paid off in the long run.