AWS just snapped up a host of Apple's M3 Ultra Macs despite high global shortage (www.techradar.com)

AWS has acquired a limited supply of Apple’s M3 Ultra Macs, specifically in a unique 256GB configuration not available to ordinary customers. This move comes as Apple faces a significant delay in shipping its Mac Studio devices to consumers, with wait times exceeding two months. Developers in the AI and ML fields have been depleting stock of these high-performance Macs to run intensive language models, further exacerbating the hardware shortage. AWS now offers this powerful M3 Ultra configuration as part of its cloud infrastructure, providing a compelling option for developers to build and test applications across Apple's ecosystem, including visionOS. This development is particularly significant for the AI/ML community, as it allows developers immediate access to high-performance computing power without the long wait associated with direct purchases. However, the cloud offering is currently limited to only two AWS regions, posing challenges for global developers seeking lower latency solutions. While pricing details remain unclear, AWS has positioned itself as a critical player in delivering Apple's latest technology, effectively creating a temporary monopoly for high-demand compute power. This arrangement offers developers a strategic alternative to waiting for hardware shipments, though it raises questions about cost-effectiveness and the future of AWS's proprietary strategies in providing macOS environments.