Apple introduces M6 and M5 Ultra for a big leap in performance and AI compute (www.apple.com)

Apple has unveiled its groundbreaking M6 and M5 Ultra chips, with the M6 being the company's first 2-nanometer chip, delivering a significant boost in performance and AI capabilities. The M6 features a 12-core CPU, a 12-core GPU with Neural Accelerators, and a Dual 16-core Neural Engine, promising up to 2x the peak compute for on-device AI workflows. Meanwhile, the M5 Ultra represents a new quad-die architecture, capable of hosting an up-to 36-core CPU and an impressive 80-core GPU, providing massive memory bandwidth with 1.2TB/s, essential for handling intensive pro workloads and large AI models. These advancements mark a pivotal moment for the AI/ML community, enabling developers to execute and fine-tune substantial AI models locally on their Macs. Apple’s new silicon offers industry-leading power efficiency and sophisticated features like hardware-accelerated ray tracing and enhanced graphics capabilities, which support more demanding applications across various disciplines. With frameworks like Core ML and Metal optimized for both new chips, developers can leverage the extraordinary compute power for innovative AI solutions, setting a new standard in desktop performance and creative applications.