Apple has joined the Ultra Accelerator Link Consortium (UALink), which focuses on developing next-generation technology to connect chips in artificial intelligence (AI) data centres. The consortium announced the addition on Tuesday, as reported by Xinhua.
Apple now holds a seat on the consortium’s board, alongside Alibaba and semiconductor firm Synopsys. Since its incorporation in October 2024, UALink has grown to include over 65 member companies, including Intel, AMD, Google, AWS, Microsoft, and Meta.
UALink is working on a standard that links AI accelerator chips within server farms. This open standard, based on technologies like AMD’s Infinity Fabric, aims to enhance the training, fine-tuning, and running of AI models. The first UALink-compatible products are expected to hit the market within the next two years, according to TechCrunch.
“UALink shows great promise in addressing connectivity challenges and creating new opportunities for expanding AI capabilities and demands,” said Apple director of platform architecture Becky Loop. “Apple has a long history of pioneering and collaborating on innovations that drive our industry forward, and we’re excited to join the UALink board of directors.”
Apple’s involvement in UALink aligns with its growing investments in AI infrastructure. The Wall Street Journal recently reported that Apple is developing a new server chip to improve efficiency in its AI data centres, supporting its Apple Intelligence suite of AI features.
