Apple is exploring the use of generative artificial intelligence to streamline and accelerate chip design, according to remarks made by Johny Srouji, Senior Vice President of Hardware Technologies. The comments, delivered during a recent event in Belgium hosted by semiconductor research organisation Imec, signal Apple’s interest in applying AI not just to consumer experiences, but to the core technologies behind its devices.
Srouji traced Apple’s evolution in chip development from the debut of the A4 chip in 2010 to its more recent silicon powering Mac computers and the Vision Pro headset. He emphasised that staying at the forefront of chip design requires using the most advanced tools available, including the latest innovations from electronic design automation (EDA) companies.
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EDA tools now racing to integrate AI into workflows
Industry leaders like Cadence Design Systems and Synopsys are both integrating generative AI into their EDA platforms to enhance speed, efficiency, and design accuracy. Apple has traditionally been a major user of EDA tools in its silicon development pipeline. By adopting AI capabilities within these platforms, Apple aims to achieve faster design cycles, reduced verification time, and potentially improved chip performance.
Apple’s interest reflects a broader industry trend of AI-enhanced semiconductor development, where machine learning models assist in managing complexity, optimising power and thermal profiles, and identifying design bottlenecks early in the process.
Apple’s hardware team is all-in on silicon innovation
Srouji also highlighted Apple’s risk-taking approach, noting that the company had no fallback plan when it switched from Intel to its own chips for the Mac lineup in 2020. That bet paid off, establishing Apple Silicon as a competitive alternative in desktop computing.
The adoption of AI in Apple’s design workflows is likely to reinforce its vertical integration strategy—tightening control over performance, power efficiency, and silicon-software synergy. While the company has not disclosed specific AI tools in use, the remarks suggest Apple is closely watching how generative AI can reshape the future of semiconductor innovation.
