While Apple still needs to fully optimize the M1 processor and its software for the task, a 13-inch MacBook Pro with Apple Silicon performed nearly as well at a machine learning test as the 16-inch MacBook Pro with dedicated Radeon graphics.
Benchmarks for the M1 processor have been impressive so far with scores rivaling even the most expensive Intel MacBook Pro configurations. These are early days yet as software continues to be optimized for the processor, so some tasks and processes will see big speed jumps as developers take advantage of the hardware.
One space that the M1 processor should excel in is machine learning (ML) processes. As with Apple's A-series chips like the A12Z Bionic, the M1 has a dedicated Neural Engine used for complex data processing and ML. Apple says the M1 Neural Engine can handle up to 11 trillion operations per second when in use.