May 6 (Reuters) - Apple ( AAPL ) is developing its own

chip to run artificial intelligence software in data centers,

the Wall Street Journal reported on Monday, citing people

familiar with the matter.

Apple ( AAPL ), which has been falling behind its competitors on AI,

has been evading questions about its plans for the technology.

"We continue to feel very bullish about our opportunity

in generative AI and we're making significant investments," CEO

Tim Cook told Reuters in an interview.

The project, internally codenamed as Project ACDC (Apple

Chips in Data Center), aims to leverage Apple's ( AAPL ) chip design

expertise for its server infrastructure, the report said.

Project ACDC has been in the works for several years, but it

is unknown if or when the project will be unveiled, according to

the newspaper.

For Apple's ( AAPL ) server chip, the component will likely be

focused on running AI models, also known as inference, rather

than in training AI models, the report said.

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

comment.

The company has been closely working with Taiwan

Semiconductor Manufacturing Co ( TSM ) to design and initiate

production of such chips, the WSJ said, adding it remains

uncertain whether both companies have yielded a definitive

result.

(Reporting by Angela Christy in Bengaluru; Editing by Varun H

K)