Intel Core Ultra: Everything about these chips with on-device AI

AI, or artificial intelligence, has been developing quickly over the past few years. But 2024 is the year where the tech is expected to really revolutionise consumer technology. That’s because on-device AI, not just regular AI, is set to be the next big thing. We’ve already seen Qualcomm and MediaTek bring on-device AI to its latest flagship chips, and now Intel has stepped up with its new Core Ultra processors, which will finally bring AI for laptops.

Here’s all you need to know about the Core Ultra processors. But before that, here’s a quick bit on what on-device AI is.

What is on-device AI?

On-device artificial intelligence is AI powered directly via a device’s processor. Contrary to AI functionality over the cloud which relies on connectivity, on-device AI works within the processor, completely offline. This makes results faster, more secure, and independent of network connectivity.

Intel Core Ultra processors: What’s new?

Intel’s new Core Ultra chipsets are built on the new Intel 4 architecture and come with a few design changes, including a dedicated NPU, or Neural Processing Unit. This component of the chipset will be capable of giving AI laptops their capabilities of performing tasks like subject selection and background blurring in photos, or eye-tracking in other apps. Bringing these processes from the cloud to the device, the NPUs will make AI models like Stable Diffusion run even faster.

ALSO READ: 5 free AI image generators that you can use today

The new Intel Core Ultra chipsets will be available in a total of eleven variants, including five H-series chips with built-in Intel Arc GPUs and six U-series chips. Check out the details on each processor in the series below.

Beyond AI

AI is just one aspect of the new chips. Intel also claims a boost in performance, with the new Core Ultra 7 165H getting 11 per cent better multi-threading performance than rivals like the AMD Ryzen 7 7840U and the Apple M3. During its launch event in December 2023, Intel also added that the chipsets are the brand’s most energy efficient ones ever built, thanks to new Low-Power efficiency cores.

ALSO READ: Intel 14th Gen CPUs bring in more speed and AI-powered overclocking

When it comes to buying a laptop for AI use cases, the new Intel Core Ultra series will be a name you will increasingly see more of, with some models by HP, Asus, Acer and Samsung already announced globally. In India, models like the HP Spectre x360 14 and the Samsung Galaxy Book4 Pro are already powered by the chips and available to buy, and many more laptops will use the chipsets in the months to come.