Apple, along with Alibaba and Synopsys, has joined the board of directors of the Ultra Accelerator Link (UALink) Consortium, taking a big step forward in the AI technology department.
The consortium aims to develop UALink, a high-speed interconnect designed to enhance next-generation AI cluster performance.
UALink 1.0, which will be deployed in early 2025, offers data speeds of up to 200 Gbps per lane, paving the way for quicker, more efficient AI systems.

Apple's Director of Platform Architecture, Becky Loop, highlighted the potential significance of UALink: "UALink shows great promise in addressing connectivity challenges and creating new opportunities for expanding AI capabilities and demands." Loop also understood Apple's history of pushing innovation through cooperation, demonstrating the company's dedication to shaping the future of AI infrastructure.
Although it is unknown whether Apple would incorporate UALink into its systems, the collaboration demonstrates its commitment to improving the larger AI business.
Apple's Intelligence servers currently use the M2 Ultra chip, but the company plans to migrate to M4 series chips this year. Meanwhile, Apple is reportedly developing a specialized AI server chip to deliver even greater performance for AI applications.

UALink's development could revolutionize AI cluster networking. It would allow for faster data transfer and scalability capabilities, which are critical for meeting the expanding demands of AI applications.
As Apple contributes to the consortium's efforts, the program has the potential to set a new standard for high-speed interconnects in the AI era, benefiting both the firm and the industry at large.