Apple has started shipping artificial intelligence servers from its new Houston manufacturing facility. The tech giant announced this week that production began earlier than expected. According to Chron, the 250,000-square-foot factory was originally set to open in 2026.
Production Moves Ahead of Plan
The company first announced the Houston facility in February. At that time, Apple said it would work with manufacturing partners to begin production later in 2025. The servers are now being shipped to Apple data centers across the country. They will power Apple Intelligence and support Private Cloud Compute, a system designed for private AI processing.
Apple COO Sabih Khan said teams accelerated work to get the factory running ahead of schedule. The company plans to expand the facility to increase production next year. These servers were previously made outside the United States. Apple now calls them American-made and says they play a key role in its AI features.
Partnership With Local Contractors
Apple is working with several local contractors to build and expand the factory. The company is also partnering with Houston City College to recruit and hire local talent. The facility is expected to create thousands of jobs in the area.
Part of Broader U.S. Investment
The Houston factory is part of Apple’s $600 billion commitment to invest in the United States over the next four years. President Donald Trump praised the company when it raised its commitment from $500 billion to $600 billion in August. He called it one of the greatest investment booms in the nation’s history.
Trump has expressed hope that Apple will eventually manufacture iPhones in the U.S. Right now, about 80 percent of iPhones sold in the U.S. are made in China. The servers, meanwhile, support Apple Intelligence features that launched last year. New tools introduced in September include live translations, fitness insights, and visual updates with Genmoji and Image Playground.
