With the latest updates to Apple iOS 18.1, iPadOS 18.1, and macOS 15.1, Apple is rapidly improving the AI capabilities of its devices. Industry experts say the tech giant is just getting started and said it will launch more AI features.

The first step in how to support Apple's ambitious AI strategy is to seek help from Foxconn and Lenovo to use its Apple M series chips to establish the huge AI server infrastructure needed to support Apple Intelligence functions across devices. Apple recognized the need to enhance data center capabilities to help it compete with tech giants such as Microsoft, Amazon, and Google.

Although Foxconn has been Apple's long-term iPhone supplier, its experience in producing AI servers for NVIDIA is particularly appealing to Apple. However, Foxconn did not fully meet Apple's requirements because Apple is seeking to improve its server design and engineering capabilities, which prompted Lenovo to enter the market.

This proactive approach highlights Apple's determination to catch up with competitors who have invested heavily in artificial intelligence infrastructure. Companies such as Microsoft and Amazon have begun to build their own artificial intelligence data centers to meet the growing demand for artificial intelligence solutions, and Apple's acceleration reflects these trends.

Lenovo will design and manufacture AI servers for Apple, which means it will be part of Apple's supply chain. This quickly attracted market attention. In recent years, Lenovo has actively laid out the data center business. Entering the “fruit chain” this time has undoubtedly opened up new growth space for its high-end server business.

Apple's supply chain system has long been famous for its strict screening mechanism, and being able to become one of them means that suppliers have reached extremely high standards in terms of technical strength, quality control, and production capacity. In particular, AI servers are the first time Apple has entered the AI server, and its requirements for partners are even more stringent. This collaboration has undoubtedly highlighted Lenovo's R&D and manufacturing capabilities in the field of AI servers.

Compared to traditional suppliers, Lenovo's global production layout, end-to-end service capabilities, and the world's highest product stability may be important reasons for attracting Apple.

“From data centers to AI edge computing, Lenovo has been expanding its product footprint in recent years. This diversification capability is in line with Apple's layout for future technology needs,” an industry expert pointed out.

AI servers are in a period of rapid growth. According to market research firm IDC data, the global AI server market will grow at an average annual rate of more than 20% over the next five years. With the rise of generative AI, enterprise demand for high-performance computing power has surged, which has also driven a significant increase in demand for AI servers.

As a leading company in the global technology field, Apple's demand for AI servers is not limited to the hardware level, but also involves deeply optimized software and hardware integration capabilities. The addition of Lenovo may be an important step for Apple to accelerate the layout of its AI ecosystem.

However, for Lenovo, whether it can actually benefit more from this cooperation depends on whether it can drive the expansion of other high-end customers through cooperation with Apple.” “Becoming an Apple supplier requires extremely high technical capabilities and cost control capabilities,” a supply chain analyst said.

In the past, the “fruit chain effect” led to a significant increase in the performance and market value of many suppliers. Take Lixun Precision and Lansi Technology as an example. After joining Apple's supply chain, most of these companies continued to improve their performance in the capital market. Lenovo has now entered the “fruit chain”, and the market is looking forward to its future market capitalization growth room.

Behind this collaboration, it also reflects Lenovo's strategic choices in business transformation. Although AI PCs have brought the PC industry back to Chaoyang in recent years, they were still a moderately growing market until popular applications appeared, and AI, big data, and cloud computing were the main tracks for the future of the industry. Lenovo's current collaboration with Apple not only proved its technical strength in the field of AI servers, but also provided more possibilities for its layout in the high-value-added market.