Apple M5 AI server hardware details leaked

Leaked internal photos have provided a first look at Apple’s proprietary AI server hardware, identified by leakers as the ‘Apple M5 Server’. The equipment is believed to power Apple’s Private Cloud Compute (PCC) architecture, a system designed to handle high-performance AI tasks for Apple Intelligence while maintaining user privacy by ensuring data is not stored or accessible to the company.

The server features a rack-mounted design capable of housing up to 32 computing modules per chassis. These modules utilize Apple-designed silicon chips and are equipped with large heatsinks and fans to optimize thermal management. The hardware is designed for high maintainability, featuring quick-release latches for easy component replacement.

Reports indicate that the server cannot operate independently; it requires a Mac Studio to serve as a control host and necessitates internal Apple control accounts for activation. Production of these AI servers is reportedly taking place at Apple’s facility in Houston, Texas, as part of a broader $600 billion investment plan in U.S. infrastructure.