Apple shifts strategy: $600bn on chips, AI and a future without China
Apple has said it will increase its investment in the US to $600bn by 2030. This is the company's largest commitment to the US market in its history. In the official press release, everything is presented as a pathetic concern for innovation, jobs and the future. But between the lines you can read: we want to be less dependent on China, not fight with regulators and keep control over supply chains.
The news has already been picked up by major media outlets, and Apple's stock is predicted to get a boost from the "Americanisation" of the brand.
What goes into that $600 billion
Apple isn't just building another office. It:
- is investing in chip manufacturing in Arizona (along with TSMC)
- is expanding campuses, RD centres and data hubs in Texas, Iowa, North Carolina.
- Funds AI development, new chips, and possibly a successor to the iPhone.
- invests in education programmes, small businesses and gender equality initiatives.
- and, of course, doesn't forget to mention local procurement and "generous tax dollars."
The goal is to strengthen the existing ecosystem in the US, where Apple already supports about 450,000 (+ 20,000 planned) jobs directly through a network of suppliers and partners, and to build an image as a "hero of the US economy" amid geopolitical and regulatory risks.
A $600 billion investment in the US. Illustration: Apple
Why it matters
A massive return on investment in the US could mean:
- Less dependence on China → more stable supply of iPhones, Macs and Vision Pro
- Chip production locally → less disruption and possibly fewer order delays
- AI development in the US → new products, new chips, new voice assistants, again not understanding your queries
And yes, taxes are important too, because now Apple is not only talking about "innovation" but actually spending.
Apple's US manufacturing development programme. Illustration: Apple
$600 billion - how much is that in reality?
To understand the scale:
→ $600 billion is almost the entire GDP of Poland.
→ With this money you can buy Netflix, Spotify, AMD, Adobe and still have coffee left over at the Apple Store.
→ This is more than the US Department of Defence's cybersecurity spending - by a factor of 10.
What else don't we know?
Apple isn't disclosing exactly how much it's spending on AI, Vision Pro, or the future instead of the iPhone. But if the company is being so generous with money, there's a chance that something big is being prepared behind the scenes - perhaps an AI visual assistant or an entirely new product.
Source: Apple
