Recent news from the market reveals that Apple is making substantial modifications to its chip development approach in a bid to secure an early stronghold in the artificial intelligence (AI) landscape. Apple has decided to halt the development of the M6 Pro, M6 Max, and M6 Ultra variants, opting instead to solely retain the foundational M6 chip (which leverages a 2nm process). Concurrently, the company is redirecting its research and development efforts towards the M7 series chips, which are engineered with on-device AI as their central feature. This series encompasses four models: M7, M7 Pro, M7 Max, and M7 Ultra. The inaugural base version of the M7 is slated for release in the first half of 2027, with the M7 Ultra earmarked for inclusion in the Mac Studio in 2028, employing TSMC's cutting-edge 1.4nm process. This strategic pivot has precipitated a comprehensive price hike across Apple's product range. Apple's decision is driven by the need to tackle the capacity constraints in advanced manufacturing processes, which have been exacerbated by the worldwide spike in demand for AI chips. Additionally, this move is aimed at diminishing Apple's sole dependence on TSMC.