alt Hacker NewsI’m not claiming insider knowledge, just going by publicly documents on Apple’s architecture and operations.
Private Cloud Compute runs on Apple silicon servers derived from the same silicon used in devices, with custom secure OS infrastructure built around them. See Apple’s security documentation and reporting on PCC servers by finding the link somewhere in the comments of this thread.
As for their econ model, just see Cook’s methodical style with fast turnover to avoid stockpiling [1], i.e., the opposite of what is going on with AI servers where margins are cut at every step of the way. So sharing an assembly facility doesn’t imply chips are interchangeable, it may well just be assembly efficiency, which I guess is common.
[1] https://mondays.supernegotiate.com/post/inside-tim-cook-s-ma...
You mean https://security.apple.com/blog/private-cloud-compute/?
The only thing it says is "custom Apple silicon", which honestly could mean a high-binned chip from the same production line.
You gotta admit that the M4 price is kind of a magic trick. Also, with zero carbon emissions.
Look at their environmental report:
https://images.apple.com/co/environment/pdf/products/desktop...
> To address emissions generated by using primary materials, we’re increasing the recycled content in our products, maximizing material and manufacturing efficiencies, and improving yields.
This wording is very specific. It's not "recycled materials", it's "recycled content" to address the emissions of using primary materials. I find it to be very sneaky.
I'm not saying they're refurbishing used servers, but there's definitely something going on here.
Look at their overall environment report from 2024 (not product specific):
https://www.apple.com/environment/pdf/Apple_Environmental_Pr...
There is a section about "Material recovery". Here is a quote:
> Even after a product reaches the end of its life, the materials within it can serve the next generation of products.
> Each time that we effectively recover materials from end-of-life products, we enable circular supply chains.
> Disassembly and recovery advancement: Continuing to develop better, more efficient means of disassembling products that maximize material recovery while minimizing waste.
It seems to me that what they're describing here, publicly, is almost exactly what I said. I just made an extra leap implying that the disassembled EOL'd products were servers that never got used and were turned into M4 Minis (which is speculation, but highly informed by these reports).
Why do this? Well, it means they can invest on servers and if they lose some race, they can pivot. It's a unique advantage. I would take advantage of that if I were Tim.