The move comes as Apple trails behind tech rivals in integrating AI into its products. The company also introduced new models of its mid-priced iPad Air, which will now come in a larger 13-inch screen size at $800, as well as the 11-inch size for $600. The new iPads come with Apple’s M2 chip, which first came to market in Apple’s MacBooks in 2022. The full potential of the AI features the new chips could power may not be revealed until Apple’s developer conference next month.
Key takeaways:
- Apple has introduced a new chip, the M4, which it claims outperforms personal computers designed for artificial intelligence. The chip is being placed in an iPad Pro model rather than a laptop, which is an unusual move for Apple.
- The M4 chip is more power-efficient and has larger portions dedicated to handling AI tasks. Apple aims to get these chips into the hands of app makers ahead of its annual software developer conference next month.
- The iPad Pro with the M4 chip will start at $1,000 for an 11-inch model and $1,300 for a 13-inch model. The chip includes a larger 'neural engine' designed for AI features such as generating text or images.
- Apple also introduced new models of its mid-priced iPad Air, which will now come in a larger 13-inch screen size at $800, as well as the 11-inch size it previously came in for $600. These models come with Apple’s M2 chip, which first came to market in Apple’s MacBooks in 2022.