Apple bets on local AI with new Mac models

Highlights

Apple is adding M6 and M5 Pro options to the Mac Mini.
The Mac Mini now starts at $899.
Apple is emphasizing local AI processing and model development.

According to CNBC, the new machines introduce updated Apple Silicon, faster neural processing, and configurations aimed at developers building and running AI agents and large language models. The announcement comes only weeks before Apple is expected to unveil its next generation of iPhones.

New chips target local AI

The Mac Mini can now be configured with Apple's new M6 or M5 Pro processors, with the M6 becoming the first chip in that generation to appear in a Mac. The processor is manufactured using Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. 2-nanometer technology.

Apple says the M5 Pro configuration can process large language model prompts 8.5 times faster than older Pro versions of the Mac Mini. The company is positioning the machine for developers who want to run AI agents and models on dedicated local hardware rather than relying entirely on remote data centers.

The Mac Mini now starts at $899, an increase of $100 from the previous starting price and well above the $599 level offered before an earlier price increase linked to higher memory costs.

Mac Studio is aimed at more demanding AI development. Models equipped with the M5 Max are designed to run large language models nearly four times faster than their predecessors and start at $2,499.

The higher-end M5 Ultra version starts at $5,499. Multiple M5 Ultra Mac Studios can also be connected to pool their memory and computing resources, allowing developers to work with frontier AI models containing as many as a trillion parameters.

Macs gain a larger role in Apple's AI strategy

The launch reflects a broader shift in the AI computing market. While much of the industry has focused on massive cloud data centers powered by specialized accelerators, developers are also experimenting with models and autonomous agents that can operate directly on local machines.

Apple is leaning on its neural engines and unified memory architecture to compete in that segment. The Mac Mini provides a relatively compact entry point for dedicated AI workloads, while the Mac Studio gives researchers substantially more computing power without requiring traditional server infrastructure.

The strategy could also strengthen Apple's position among developers at a time when competition for AI workloads is intensifying across the semiconductor and computing industries. The company is using its control over processors, hardware, and software to make Macs more capable of running increasingly sophisticated models without sending every workload to the cloud.

Apple shares rose 0.25% to $311.13 as investors assessed the company’s latest push into AI-focused computing.

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