July 15 (Reuters) - Apple ( AAPL ) is looking to buy chip

companies to bolster its efforts to make server processors for

running AI, The Information reported on Wednesday, citing people

familiar with the matter.

Here are some details:

* The iPhone maker has approached chip startups to gauge

their interest in a buyout and has spoken with bankers about

possible deals, the report said.

* Apple's ( AAPL ) interest comes as it faces challenges with the

performance of its in-house AI servers, which currently run on

internally designed M2 Ultra chips, according to The

Information.

* It had originally planned to ship a future version of its

AI server chip, known internally as "Baltra", this year, but the

project has been pushed back, people familiar with the matter

told The Information.

* Apple ( AAPL ) did not immediately respond to a request for

comment. Reuters could not independently verify the report.

* Earlier this year, Apple ( AAPL ) tried running Google's

Gemini models on its internal servers as part of a Siri

overhaul, but the Mac-based chips could not handle the large

model, forcing the company to run parts of the revamped

assistant on Nvidia ( NVDA ) chips in Google's cloud

infrastructure, the report said.

* Apple ( AAPL ) has historically avoided large acquisitions, last

making a deal in January for Q.ai, an Israeli company working on

AI technology for audio.

* The company had $45.57 billion in cash and cash

equivalents as of March 28, the end of its second quarter.

* Last week, Apple ( AAPL ) said it plans to spend over $30 billion

under a multi-year chip supply deal with Broadcom ( AVGO ),

bolstering its domestic sourcing.

(Reporting by Anhata Rooprai in Bengaluru; Editing by Sriraj

Kalluvila)