Private Cloud Compute is a cloud intelligence system that Apple designed for private artificial intelligence processing, and it’s what Apple is using to keep Apple Intelligence requests secure when they need to be processed in the cloud.
Apple promised to allow security and privacy researchers to verify the end-to-end security and privacy promises that Apple made with Private Cloud Compute, and today, Apple made its Private Cloud Compute Virtual Research Environment (VRE) and other materials publicly available to all security researchers.
Apple has a Private Cloud Compute (PCC) Security Guide that details all of the components of PCC and how they work to provide privacy for cloud-based AI processing. Apple released the source code for select components of PCC that help implement its security and privacy requirements, which allows for a deeper dive into PCC.
The Virtual Research Environment is a set of tools that lets researchers perform their own security analysis on PCC using a Mac. The VRE can be used for inspecting PCC software releases, verifying the consistency of the transparency log, booting a release in a virtualized environment, and modifying and debugging PCC software for deeper investigation. The VRE can be accessed in the macOS 18.1 Developer Preview and can be used with a Mac that has an Apple silicon chip and 16GB+ unified memory.
Along with these tools, Apple is expanding its Apple Security Bounty to include rewards for vulnerabilities that demonstrate a compromise of the fundamental privacy and security guarantees of Private Cloud Compute. Security researchers who locate a vulnerability can earn up to $1 million.
Popular Stories
18 New Things Your iPhone Can Do in iOS 18.1
Apple is expected to release iOS 18.1 on Monday, October 28, bringing the first set of Apple Intelligence features to iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 16 models. This update marks the first significant step forward in Apple’s AI integration, offering a new Siri contextually-aware experience and a range of additional capabilities powered by on-device machine learning and large language models. There are a …
Apple Releases New AirPods Pro, AirPods, and AirPods Max Firmware
Apple today released a new firmware update for the original AirPods Pro, the AirPods 2, the AirPods 3, and the Lightning version of the AirPods Max headphones. The new firmware is version 6F21, up from the prior 6A326 firmware that these devices were previously running. There is no word on what’s included in the firmware, but given that these are all older models, it is likely that the new…
Tim Cook Admits Truth About Vision Pro Following Lackluster Sales
The Wall Street Journal’s Ben Cohen this summer interviewed Apple CEO Tim Cook about the Vision Pro, innovation, Apple Intelligence, and more. Image Credit: Vanity Fair Cook admitted that the Vision Pro headset is not a mass-market product due to its high price. “At $3,500, it’s not a mass-market product,” said Cook. “Right now, it’s an early-adopter product. People who want to have…
5 Reasons to Get Excited About the New Mac Mini
Apple’s Mac mini has long been a powerhouse in a compact form, offering impressive performance in a small package. With rumors swirling about a completely overhauled new model that is likely just days away from being announced, anticipation is building for what Apple has in store. From enhanced connectivity to major hardware upgrades, the upcoming Mac mini promises to bring significant…
iPhone SE 4 Mass Production Timeframe Revealed as Launch Gets Closer
Apple suppliers will begin mass production of the fourth-generation iPhone SE in December, supply chain analyst Ming-Chi Kuo said today in a blog post. The fourth-generation iPhone SE is expected to have a similar design as the base iPhone 14, with rumored features including a 6.1-inch OLED display, Face ID, a newer A-series chip, a USB-C port, a single 48-megapixel rear camera, 8GB of RAM…
Report: Apple May Stop Producing Vision Pro by the End of 2024
Apple has abruptly reduced production of the Vision Pro headset and could stop making the current version of the device completely by the end of 2024, The Information reports. Citing multiple people “directly involved” in making components for the headset, the report says that the scaling back of production began in the early summer. This indicates that Apple now has a sufficient number of…
Gurman: ‘M4 Mac Launch’ is ‘Next Week’
Just a few hours after claiming that the first Macs with M4 chips are launching “very soon,” Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman has followed up with a slightly more specific timeframe. In his latest social media post today, he said an “M4 Mac launch” is on Apple’s schedule for next week, but he did not mention a specific day. A concept of a smaller Mac mini with front-facing USB-C ports “Busy week for…
Gurman: New MacBook Pro, iMac, and Mac Mini Models With M4 Chips Launching ‘Very Soon’
Apple is planning to launch its first Macs with the M4 series of chips “very soon,” according to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman. In a social media post today, Gurman said these Macs will include new MacBook Pro, iMac, and Mac mini models specifically. He continues to expect the next Mac mini to feature a “revamped” design, in line with his previous reporting that said the new model will be nearly…
Apple Working on New Magic Mouse 2, Magic Trackpad 2 and Magic Keyboard
Apple may soon release new versions of the Magic Mouse, Magic Keyboard, and Magic Trackpad, according to code found in the iOS 18.1 release candidate by MacRumors contributor Aaron Perris. There are references to a new Magic Mouse 2, Magic Trackpad 2, and several Magic Keyboards, which would include versions with Touch ID and number pads, as well as models without. While there is no…