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Apple to build AI servers in Houston, invest $500B in U.S. economy

Inside Apple's R&D center in Austin, Texas -- image credit: Apple

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With a new Texas factory and increased manufacturing support across the States, Apple has announced it will create 20,000 new American jobs as part of a four-year, $500 billion investment plan to include Apple Intelligence server farms.

Following Apple CEO Tim Cook's February 2025 meeting at the White House, Apple has confirmed President Trump's announcement of massive US investment.

"We are bullish on the future of American innovation, and we're proud to build on our long-standing U.S. investments with this $500 billion commitment to our country's future," Cook said in a statement. "From doubling our Advanced Manufacturing Fund, to building advanced technology in Texas, we're thrilled to expand our support for American manufacturing."

"And we'll keep working with people and companies across this country to help write an extraordinary new chapter in the history of American innovation," he continued.

Apple's investment plan includes:

  • Opening a new advanced manufacturing facility in Houston
  • Double its US Advanced Manufacturing Fund
  • Create a manufacturing academy in Michigan
  • Increase research and development across the US

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The Houston facility will specifically be for the production of servers that are to be used to support Apple Intelligence. Apple says that these servers, which provide its Private Cloud Compute system, were previously manufactured outside the US.

Texas Instruments' new semiconductor wafer fabrication plant in Lehi, Utah — image credit: Apple

As part of supporting Apple Intelligence, the company says that it also intends to continue "expanding data center capacity in North Carolina, Iowa, Oregon, Arizona, and Nevada."

Apple hasn't specified how it will increase research and development, but has said that it will be to support what it describes as "cutting-edge fields like silicon engineering."

As part of this, Apple says it plans to recruit around 20,000 people for this R&D effort, as well as software development and AI.

It has, though, specified that its doubled Advanced Manufacturing Fund investment means it will be committing $10 billion to promoting skills development. That includes a multi-billion dollar commitment to TSMC's Fab 21 plant in Arizona.

65 Comments

rob53 14 Years · 3345 comments

Why in Texas? People thought Apple's products were getting too expensive, just wait for products coming out of Texas. They will break everyone's budget. Who in Texas will actually work at this manufacturing facility? Will everything be automated? Where will the people for these 20K come from, India? Who's going to build the facility? Not the hardest workers from south of the border. trump made sure of that.

5 Likes · 11 Dislikes
TheSparkle 3 Years · 26 comments

Way to lie down and be counted. Exactly the sort of “Can’t Do” attitude that poisons us here in Europe. Believe it or not, some of us still look to you lot for a bit of testosterone fuelled inspiration. 


I’d *** swim the Atlantic and walk the rest of the way for a job at that place. 

No way on God’s earth Cook agreed to anything that wasn’t fully in Apple’s interest. The media may like to portray these people as children but the sharp end of these business deals is about as real as it gets. 
rob53
said:
Why in Texas? People thought Apple's products were getting too expensive, just wait for products coming out of Texas. They will break everyone's budget. Who in Texas will actually work at this manufacturing facility? Will everything be automated? Where will the people for these 20K come from, India? Who's going to build the facility? Not the hardest workers from south of the border. trump made sure of that.

6 Likes · 2 Dislikes
avon b7 21 Years · 8187 comments

rob53 said:
Why in Texas? People thought Apple's products were getting too expensive, just wait for products coming out of Texas. They will break everyone's budget. Who in Texas will actually work at this manufacturing facility? Will everything be automated? Where will the people for these 20K come from, India? Who's going to build the facility? Not the hardest workers from south of the border. trump made sure of that.

The servers aren't for sale so that isn't a factor in that particular regard. They are for in-house use so Apple can swallow the costs. They were built outside the US previously for good reason. 

Now, with tariffs and all, and also federal or state incentives, it probably works out as acceptable to do the manufacturing on US soil. 

Reducing supply chain external interplay (and possible interference) is also becoming a hot topic so the more manufacturing is done at home makes sense as long as it doesn't break the bank to do so. 

I agree that 20,000 jobs is a drop in the ocean but anything is better than nothing. How many will go to US citizens is another matter but I'm sure that Cook pushed back on Trump thinking in that regard in their meetings in order for Apple to be able to hire whoever is needed with little red tape.

Most of this announcement is probably not really Trump related. The server farms (Apple manufactured or not) were probably in the final stages of planning before Trump got back into the White House. 

9 Likes · 1 Dislike
quakerotis 9 Years · 131 comments

Like so much of a bribery victim's fealty, this will amount to no investment, no jobs, but plenty of time for T**** (the convicted felon and sexual predator) to lead his boy Cook around on a leash.

3 Likes · 11 Dislikes