Intel has announced its 14th generation Meteor Lake CPUs, boasting an innovative AI accelerator designed to drive AI experiences on personal computers. The company is working alongside Microsoft to develop AI features based on Meteor Lake's SoC tile, which includes a Vision Processing Unit (VPU). Intel previously acquired VPU company Movidius in 2016 and integrated its technology into some Raptor Lake mobile CPUs. The VPU, in conjunction with AI accelerators in CPU and GPU tiles, can run AI models, allowing for improvements in multimedia features and video editing.
Meteor Lake CPUs could potentially revolutionize the integration of AI into all aspects of the Windows operating system. Currently, Windows 11 has limited AI functionality like the VPU in Windows Studio Effects, which is utilized for camera and microphone conference call effects. With the new GPU in Meteor Lake, Microsoft is expected to create new, advanced AI features for future versions of Windows. However, it remains uncertain how the AI integration will translate into tangible improvements for users.
Intel's Meteor Lake is expected to launch later this year, with mobile platforms receiving priority over desktop releases. It is evident that both Intel and Microsoft are keen on ushering in an era of rapid change in the personal computer market, with AI becoming an integral part of the PC experience. The collaboration between Intel and Microsoft, as well as third-party AI software developers for Windows, will be instrumental in shaping the future landscape of AI-powered personal computing.