diff --git a/helpers.inc.php b/helpers.inc.php
index 1153e64..f73e0e0 100644
--- a/helpers.inc.php
+++ b/helpers.inc.php
@@ -1183,3 +1183,22 @@ function names_hash_changed(string $crc_file, array $names) : bool
   ensure_write($crc_file, $names_crc);
   return $changed;
 }
+
+function is_apple_silicon() 
+{
+  $arch = php_uname('m');
+
+  // Check if the machine type contains 'arm' (ARM architecture)
+  if (strpos($arch, 'arm') !== false) {
+    return true;
+  }
+
+  // If running on x86_64, check for Apple Silicon using sysctl 
+  // (because we might get 'x86_64' when running under Rosetta)
+  if ($arch === 'x86_64') {
+    $sysctl = shell_exec('sysctl -n machdep.cpu.brand_string');
+    return strpos($sysctl, 'Apple') !== false;
+  }
+
+  return false;
+}