What is Apple’s Neural Engine?

Neural Engine is a dedicated hardware block in Apple’s A- and M-series chips designed to accelerate machine learning and AI tasks. It powers computer vision, natural language processing, and other AI-driven features directly on Apple devices.

Why is Neural Engine important for Apple?

Neural Engine enables Apple to perform AI computations locally, reducing reliance on cloud services. This boosts performance and enhances user privacy, serving as a cornerstone of the company’s AI strategy and a key competitive advantage.

What are Apple’s plans for AI chip development?

Apple is skipping the M6 chip generation and accelerating the development of M7, expected in early 2027 with an enhanced Neural Engine. The M7 Ultra is set to power new server solutions supporting up to 1.5TB of RAM, unlocking enterprise-grade AI capabilities.

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Hardware

How Apple’s Failed Self-Driving Car Project Accelerated Its AI Chip Development

July 12, 2026

Photo: The Verge

Quick answer

Apple’s failed self-driving car project led to the creation of Neural Engine—a critical component of A- and M-series chips that now drives the company’s leadership in on-device AI processing.

Apple’s autonomous vehicle project, abandoned years ago, left behind an unexpected legacy: powerful AI chips that now form the backbone of the company’s modern processors. Initially developed for self-driving cars, the processor was never completed, but its innovations became the foundation for the Neural Engine—a specialized block designed to accelerate AI workloads.

Neural Engine debuted in 2017 with the A11 Bionic chip (iPhone X) and was initially used for computer vision tasks, including FaceID and augmented reality. Over time, Apple expanded its applications, integrating Neural Engine into its desktop-class M-series chips. This move solidified the company’s leadership in on-device AI processing while reinforcing its commitment to data privacy through reduced cloud dependency.

Despite lagging behind competitors in AI software development, Apple’s hardware remains at the cutting edge. Recent reports indicate the company is skipping the M6 chip generation, focusing instead on launching the M7 in early 2027. The M7 Ultra is expected to power new server-grade products with support for up to 1.5TB of RAM, unlocking advanced enterprise AI solutions.

Common questions

What is Apple’s Neural Engine?: Neural Engine is a dedicated hardware block in Apple’s A- and M-series chips designed to accelerate machine learning and AI tasks. It powers computer vision, natural language processing, and other AI-driven features directly on Apple devices.
Why is Neural Engine important for Apple?: Neural Engine enables Apple to perform AI computations locally, reducing reliance on cloud services. This boosts performance and enhances user privacy, serving as a cornerstone of the company’s AI strategy and a key competitive advantage.
What are Apple’s plans for AI chip development?: Apple is skipping the M6 chip generation and accelerating the development of M7, expected in early 2027 with an enhanced Neural Engine. The M7 Ultra is set to power new server solutions supporting up to 1.5TB of RAM, unlocking enterprise-grade AI capabilities.

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