SAN FRANCISCO, Oct 23 (Reuters) - Apple ( AAPL ) has

started shipping artificial intelligence servers built in a

factory in Houston, it said on Thursday, part of the company's

plans to invest $600 billion in the U.S. in the next few years.

The servers contain special chips that help Apple ( AAPL ) deliver AI

features with the same privacy measures on its iPhones and Mac

computers.

U.S. President Donald Trump has pressed Apple ( AAPL ) to make iPhones in

the United States, but Apple ( AAPL ) CEO Tim Cook has said that assembly

is likely to remain overseas for the time being while Apple ( AAPL )

sources more of the key chips and components for the phone from

the U.S.

Servers from the factory will be installed in Apple's ( AAPL ) data

centers throughout the U.S., Apple ( AAPL ) said on Thursday.

"Our teams have done an incredible job accelerating work to

get the new Houston factory up and running ahead of schedule and

we plan to continue expanding the facility to increase

production next year," Apple ( AAPL ) Chief Operating Officer Sabih Khan

said in a statement.