Apple looking into RISC-V for future chips

Apple seems to be considering the RISC-V architecture as an alternative for Arm-based chips. HotHardware reports there's a fresh job posting from the Cupertino-based electronics giant for a "RISC-V High Performance Programmer":

Admittedly, It would be a bit of a reach to connect a simple job listing for a "RISC-V High Performance Programmer" and Apple breaking up with Arm, as it is in the process of doing with Intel. But the endgame of not only designing its own chips, but also sidestepping Arm core license royalties is certainly within the realm of possibility. This is Apple, after all, a company with a market cap exceeding $2.5 trillion and strong design for homegrown innovation when it comes to its silicon technologies.

Various tech giants are looking into RISC-V or have already adopted the architecture for some projects. RISC-V is an open-source architecture and there are no royalties involved with it. Additionally, the acquisition of Arm by NVIDIA may spur companies to look into other options. While the NVIDIA-Arm deal does have some backers, a lot of tech firms are skeptic about the level of control this would give NVIDIA over the Arm market.