Key Points
- Qualcomm is bringing its laptop chip technology, “Oryon,” to its mobile chips to enhance generative AI tasks like text and image creation.
- The new Snapdragon 8 Elite chip will feature advanced AI processing components, making smartphones more powerful for AI-driven applications.
- Qualcomm offers developers enhanced tools beyond those available in Android to exploit the new chip’s AI capabilities fully.
- Companies like Samsung, Asustek, and Xiaomi will use Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Elite chip in their future devices.
Qualcomm, the world’s leading supplier of mobile phone chips, announced on Monday that it is incorporating technology initially developed for its laptop processors into its mobile chips. This move aims to enhance smartphones’ processing power, particularly for generative AI tasks such as text and image creation.
In 2021, Qualcomm hired a team of former Apple engineers to design chips for laptops. These chips began powering AI features in Microsoft’s Windows earlier this year. The custom computing technology created by this team, branded as “Oryon,” is now being integrated into Qualcomm’s mobile phone chips for the first time. This new chip called the Snapdragon 8 Elite, is specifically designed to handle complex AI tasks, marking a significant step in Qualcomm’s strategy to expand beyond its core mobile business.
The Snapdragon 8 Elite chip features re-engineered components that make it better suited for AI-related functions, such as generating text or images. Qualcomm also offers software developers enhanced tools to fully utilize these capabilities, surpassing what is already available in Google’s Android operating system. By providing these tools, Qualcomm encourages developers to create new applications that leverage the advanced AI capabilities of its chips.
Chris Patrick, Qualcomm’s senior vice president and general manager for mobile handsets, highlighted the importance of AI in mobile technology, saying, “AI has been one of those areas where Google is moving fast, but we have our own technology to offer that end developer.”
Several leading tech companies, including Samsung Electronics, Asustek Computer, and Xiaomi, have already committed to using Qualcomm’s new Snapdragon 8 Elite chip in their upcoming devices. This collaboration is expected to drive more widespread adoption of AI-powered mobile applications and features.
Qualcomm aims to keep pace with the rapidly growing demand for AI processing power by integrating its advanced laptop chip technology into smartphones. This shift aligns with broader industry trends, where AI is becoming an increasingly critical component of modern mobile devices. Qualcomm’s move could help solidify its position as a leader in both mobile and AI technologies.
