Intel previews dedicated AI chip VPU of Meteor Lake ahead of the CPU’s actual release at COMPUTEX 2023

Intel’s upcoming Meteor Lake series processors are on their way, and one exciting feature that has been revealed is the integrated AI accelerator known as the VPU, or Visual Processing Unit.

The main concept behind the VPU is to leverage Intel’s expertise in creating dedicated hardware for specific tasks, optimizing efficiency. In the AI context, the VPU will excel in areas like machine learning, generative AI, and stable diffusion.

One significant advantage of the VPU is its ability to enhance processing speed and reduce load times by performing tasks locally rather than relying on a cloud service.

Intel also mentioned that the Meteor Lake CPUs will include Arc-integrated GPUs that will work together with the VPU. This means that the VPU is not solely responsible for executing smart algorithms and producing results but rather acts as an assistant in these processes.

As a video editor, I can see how the VPU could greatly benefit my work. Applications like Premiere Pro, which utilize GPU acceleration, can potentially experience a range of improvements with the VPU. According to official statements, Adobe tested the Intel VPU in auto-reframe and scene edit detections, and the VPU outperformed in terms of both performance and power efficiency.

Unfortunately, Intel has not provided specific details about the extent of performance improvements, keeping it under wraps for now.

The collaboration between Intel and Microsoft in developing DirectML, a library focused on machine learning instructions built on DirectX12, likely contributes to Adobe’s quick integration of the VPU. This library enables developers to easily access and harness the power of the VPU without requiring extensive technical skills.

It appears that the VPU’s capabilities may vary across different SKUs, with the Core i9 processors expected to lead the pack. This raises the possibility of investing in a high-performance CPU to take advantage of the VPU’s potential.

Overall, I am eagerly anticipating the release of Intel’s Meteor Lake processors, as I am excited to witness how the VPU can elevate my productivity, especially when running on the internal battery of a laptop.