Apple(US:AAPL) 3 6 Ke·2025-07-04 12:17Core Viewpoint - Apple is considering launching a developer-focused cloud service, which would position it against major cloud service providers like Amazon, Microsoft, and Google, marking a significant expansion in its business landscape and a strategic move in the tech industry competition [2] Group 1: Cloud Service Development - The cloud service project is part of Apple's "ACDC plan" (Apple Chips in Data Center), with the first step being the launch of a private cloud computing service that utilizes high-end Mac chips for complex AI requests [3] - Apple's internal tests show that its server chips can effectively handle Apple Wallet transactions, leading to significant cost savings in infrastructure [3] - The Siri team has reported improved accuracy and cost control in text-to-speech functions using Mac chip-based servers compared to traditional Intel chip servers [3] Group 2: AI Strategy and Chip Advantage - Apple's self-developed chips are seen as a key advantage, allowing developers to use cloud services at lower costs, particularly in compute-intensive AI applications [4] - Apple has a long history of AI-related work on its chips, with companies like Dragonfruit leveraging Apple chips for cost-effective AI solutions [5] - Apple has built an open-source machine learning framework (MLX) to facilitate developers in running AI models on its hardware [5] Group 3: Revenue Growth and Developer Engagement - The introduction of a developer cloud service is crucial for Apple's service revenue, which is one of the few growth areas facing challenges from new regulations and legal scrutiny [7] - Unlike traditional cloud service providers, Apple plans to engage developers through its developer relations team rather than a large enterprise sales team, aligning with its established developer ecosystem [11] Group 4: Uncertainty and Future Prospects - The current status of the cloud service project is unclear, especially after the departure of key supporter Michael Abbott in 2023, raising questions about its future [12] - Despite the loss of a major advocate, there are still internal supporters for the project, and discussions are ongoing as of mid-2024 [12] - If successfully launched, the cloud service could open new revenue streams and reshape Apple's competitive stance in the tech industry, particularly in the context of AI and cloud computing integration [13]