Apple unveils $500 billion US investment plan amid potential tariff pressure

Apple just announced its biggest-ever investment plan, set to invest over $500 billion in the US over the next four years. This move includes opening a server manufacturing plant in Houston to power its Apple Intelligence systems, doubling its US Advanced Manufacturing Fund to $10 billion, and launching a skills academy in Michigan to boost manufacturing know-how.

Apple plans to team up with thousands of suppliers across all 50 states, creating direct jobs, enhancing Apple Intelligence infrastructure and data centers, building corporate hubs, and even backing Apple TV+ productions in 20 states. Right now, Apple supports more than 2.9 million jobs nationwide through direct hires, collaborations with American suppliers and manufacturers, and roles for iOS app developers.

The new 250,000-square-foot server plant in Houston, scheduled to kick off in 2026, is expected to bring thousands of jobs to the area. These servers, which were once made overseas, will now drive Apple Intelligence and set the stage for what's being called Private Cloud Compute—a system that blends AI processing with top-notch security for cloud computing.

As part of the upgrade to its US Advanced Manufacturing Fund, Apple is placing a multibillion-dollar bet on producing advanced silicon at TSMC's Fab 21 facility in Arizona—where Apple is the biggest customer. In fact, mass production of Apple chips just got underway last month at this cutting-edge facility, which already employs over 2,000 workers.

Looking ahead, Apple is planning to hire around 20,000 new employees over the next four years, mainly in R&D, silicon engineering, software development, and AI and machine learning. The company has nearly doubled its US advanced R&D spending over the past five years and is eager to keep that momentum going.

All of this comes at a time of potential tariff threats, as the incoming Trump administration hints at cracking down on Chinese imports. Apple CEO Tim Cook recently met with President-elect Trump, who mentioned that Apple might pull out of Mexico and ramp up its US investments. Meanwhile, the administration is floating a potential 25 percent tariff on chips and has already slapped a 10 percent tariff on Chinese goods.