North Carolina is part of Apple’s $500 billion U.S. expansion plans. Apple will expand facilities in nine states over the next four years and create 20,000 jobs, the tech giant said in a news release Monday. With the company’s largest ever financial commitment, it is focusing on artificial intelligence, silicon engineering and skills development.

Apple’s announcement signaled its near-term focus centers on artificial intelligence manufacturing. On Monday, the company promised a new manufacturing facility in Houston to make servers that support its AI system, called Apple Intelligence, and a new manufacturing academy in Detroit to help businesses integrate AI.

Apple plans to expand operations in Maiden, North Carolina — roughly 45 minutes from Charlotte — as part of its $500 billion, four-year U.S. expansion, the company announced Monday morning. Why it matters: This is Apple's largest financial commitment to date,