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Apple’s failed self-driving car program left a legacy of powerful AI chips
·1 min read
Key Takeaway
Apple's self-driving car program never really got off the ground, but it may have been what made the company's chips the powerful AI performers they are. Early in the development of the self-driving platform, Apple realized that it would need powerful on-device AI processing.
Published July 12, 2026 · Category: Tech
Overview
Apple's self-driving car program never really got off the ground, but it may have been what made the company's chips the powerful AI performers they are. Early in the development of the self-driving platform, Apple realized that it would need powerful on-device AI processing. While the car processor was never finished, as Mark Gurman details in his latest Power On newsletter, it did lead to the development of the Neural Engine, the backbone of Apple's on-device AI processing.
The Neural Engine made its debut with the iPhone X and the A11 Bionic. In those early days, it was primarily used for computer vision, powering FaceID, Animoji, and a …
What is "Apple’s failed self-driving car program left a legacy of powerful AI chips" about?+
Apple's self-driving car program never really got off the ground, but it may have been what made the company's chips the powerful AI performers they are. Early in the development of the self-driving platform, Apple realized that it would need powerful on-device AI processing. While the car processor was never finished, as Mark Gurman details […]
We use cookies and similar technologies to improve your experience, serve personalized ads, and analyze traffic. You can manage your preferences or accept/reject all.
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AnalyticsHelp us understand how visitors interact with the site.
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