Apple’s failed self-driving car program left a legacy of powerful AI chips

Apple's self-driving car program never reached completion, but it led to the development of the Neural Engine, a component designed for powerful on-device AI processing. The Neural Engine first appeared in mobile devices and was later brought to desktop computers through Apple's chip line, where it became the foundation for the company's approach to AI features while maintaining privacy by processing data on devices rather than in the cloud. Apple is now prioritizing AI hardware as a core strategy by skipping certain chip versions and accelerating development of a new chip with significant Neural Engine upgrades, which will also support a new server product. This shift reflects how Apple's abandoned automotive project inadvertently contributed to the company establishing itself as a leader in on-device AI processing hardware.