Apple Silicon is impressively optimized for running local AI models, and the data shows that people are interested in it. Mac Studios are widely sold out, and Mac minis are hard to find. There are several reasons for this, including the demand for high-end Macs with significant integrated memory, which are great for running local large language models (LLMs).
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Apple has previously explored selling servers, such as the Xserve and a variant of the 2019 Mac Pro designed for server racks, but there is currently no immediate replacement for these products.
There is growing interest in using macOS as a server, particularly in relation to artificial intelligence. Many users want agents that can access Apple services and their Mac applications without relying on their personal computers, which is why Mac minis are being purchased as headless, always-on devices.
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If this trend continues, it could be possible for Apple to get into the server business, similar to how providers like AWS operate. Customers could pay a monthly subscription fee to access macOS and Apple Silicon in the cloud. Apple already has some infrastructure in place with Private Cloud Compute, which is currently underutilized until the company is ready to deploy Apple Intelligence models tailored for Gemini.
Expanding into this space could be lucrative for Apple, as more than half of Amazon's profits come from AWS, not retail. While Apple is already a huge company with strong iPhone sales, entering the cloud computing market with Apple Silicon servers running macOS could represent a significant growth opportunity. This model could provide a steady revenue stream, charging customers monthly rather than relying on one-time sales of high-end computers.
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With Apple CEO Tim Cook likely to step down in the near future, it's possible the company will pursue this idea under new leadership, especially with John Ternus ' background in hardware.
