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Apple collaborates with Nvidia to research faster LLM performance

9to5mac.com

21–30 of 38 posts

Re: Apple collaborates with Nvidia to research faster LLM performance

#21

But Apple seems to have gone all in on their own GPU/NPUs, why would they collaborate with Nvidia on this?

Apple inference is on their own GPU. Apple training is on the cloud with Nvidia.

There are plenty of use cases e.g. Apple Maps, News etc which are public and don’t need their Private Compute Cloud.

Re: Apple collaborates with Nvidia to research faster LLM performance

#22

But Apple seems to have gone all in on their own GPU/NPUs, why would they collaborate with Nvidia on this?

Complete speculation but could be that Apple supports these operators on their GPUs and they need end-user models optimized to use them. Apple makes their money on consumer devices and need them to be performant for inference on the edge. Getting NVIDIA to integrate the operators may result in more models optimized for operators Apple's devices can leverage to stay ahead of other edge GPUs.

Re: Apple collaborates with Nvidia to research faster LLM performance

#24
post #6

Is there somebody not researching faster llm performance?

> Is there somebody not researching faster llm performance? The surprising bit is less about what they're working on and more about the collaboration itself, including the mutual and coordinated co-marketing/PR. Apple and Nvidia haven't had a business relationship in over a decade, ever since Apple stopped using Nvidia GPUs in Macs. This sort of re-engagement and subsequent promotion isn't something that "just happen…

That is exactly what I was going to say. Nvidia has been a big No No inside Apple after they strained there relationship with MacBook Pro recall with Nvidia GPU causing overheating. Apple's heat dissipation were never good in the first place which makes the matter worst.

So this isn't just about Faster LLM performance. This could possibly opens up a whole new world for Mac ecosystem with CUDA.

Re: Apple collaborates with Nvidia to research faster LLM performance

#27
post #7

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Does Intel qualify? They seem busy making GPUs for midrange insignificant gaming builds, while all their AI offerings are hopeless.

How is it insignificant. Intel GPUs are the most exciting thing that has happened in GPUs the last 5-10 years imo.

Only for a small group of people -- i.e. users look for low-mid end gaming.

Most people would say H100 is easily more exciting than all released Intel GPUs combined.

Re: Apple collaborates with Nvidia to research faster LLM performance

#28
post #7

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Does Intel qualify? They seem busy making GPUs for midrange insignificant gaming builds, while all their AI offerings are hopeless.

Not everyone is willing to pay for 4K, 120 Hz, and quality raytracing. There is a market for less than premium experiences. I wanted some marginal CUDA for Blender, so I got a 3060. This experience is anything but insignificant to me.

[deleted]

Re: Apple collaborates with Nvidia to research faster LLM performance

#29
post #7
post #6

Is there somebody not researching faster llm performance?

Does Intel qualify? They seem busy making GPUs for midrange insignificant gaming builds, while all their AI offerings are hopeless.

Virtually nobody was buying Intel GPUs:

https://www.tomshardware.com/pc-components/gpus/discrete-gpu...

Looks like their latest GPU is selling out. Hope they actually move the market a little bit and iterate on this.

Re: Apple collaborates with Nvidia to research faster LLM performance

#30
post #16

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Apple has a huge legacy burden of defaulting laptops to 2010 levels of memory capacity at 8GB all the way up to mid 2024. All the great AI inference stuff in the M-series is wasted due to that until you get ~80% penetration of the new 16GB min spec. If they get compelling local inference throughout the OS it may help them drive adoption of new models faster, but App devs won't have incentive to integrate local AI stu…

Apple Intelligence is supported on any M1 Mac: https://www.apple.com/apple-intelligence And not sure there are many use cases for running mid-sized models locally. Smaller models fit in 8GB and work fine for action handling, tagging, classification etc. And for text/image generation you just get such a better user experience using a cloud hosted model.

Fit in 8GB while running browsers and other apps that would want AI? Only tiny models that also work on phones.
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