Intel unveiled its first discrete graphics processing unit (dGPU), the Intel Arc Graphics for Automotive, at its AI Cockpit Innovation Experience event in Shenzhen. The product will be commercially deployed in vehicles as soon as 2025, accelerating automobile technology and unlocking a new era of AI-driven cockpit experiences and enhanced personalization for manufacturers and drivers alike, the company said.

Intel’s entry into automotive discrete GPUs addresses growing demand for compute power in increasingly sophisticated vehicle cockpits. By adding the Intel Arc graphics for Automotive to its existing portfolio of AI-enhanced software-defined vehicle (SDV) system-on-chips (SoCs), Intel offers automakers an open, flexible and scalable platform solution that brings next level, high fidelity experiences to the vehicle.

Key features include:

• Automotive Software and Optimized Drivers: Open source Linux-based automotive operating system, graphics driver for both dGPU and iGPU.

• Intel GPU Single Root Input/Output Virtualization (SR-IOV) Advantage: Provides up to 40% performance boost with virtual machine, enhanced security, isolation and robustness.

• Large Language Model (LLM) Frameworks Designed for Automotive: Intel optimizations integrated in industry standard LLM frameworks, offering significant improvement in efficiency, customization and customer experiences.

• Xe Display Engine: Supports additional 4 display outputs and up to 4K resolution for additional in-vehicle infotainment use cases.

• OpenGL and Vulkan: Open standard graphics and next-gen graphics API featuring ray tracing for graphics realism.

• High-Performance AAA Gaming: Exceptional performance, efficiency and scalability with gaming- optimized Xe HPG microarchitecture.

Automakers can now design a single vehicle platform that scales across trim levels. Entry and mid-level models can leverage the Intel SDV SoC, while higher-end vehicles can benefit from the added horsepower of the dGPU for even more premium features. This approach streamlines development as software is fully compatible across the integrated GPU and the discrete GPU.

Intel’s AI Cockpit Experience showcased a future where in-vehicle AI creates intuitive and personalized interactions between the driver, passengers, and vehicle that can personalize the ride and optimize the drive.

China’s rapid electric vehicle development cycles and advanced technological adoption make it an ideal testing ground for our next-generation technologies.

—Jack Weast, vice president and general manager of Intel Automotive

Key benefits of Intel’s AI cockpit solution:

• Scalability: Automakers can choose Intel SDV SoC and later add an Intel discrete GPU for managing larger compute workloads and expanding the AI features thanks to a unified instruction set that simplifies development.

• Next Generation In-Vehicle Experiences: Intel-powered voice, camera, and gesture recognition transform vehicles into immersive mobile hubs. Thundersoft’s demo showcased their new generation Cockpit user interface (UI) that transforms vehicles into immersive mobile hubs supporting seven high- definition screens rendering 3D graphics and six-in vehicle cameras and interactive features. The new UI also showed its capacity to run high-demand AAA gaming titles simultaneously while running AI PC rich applications for smart mobile working.

• Deep Personalization: With powerful AI algorithms learning driver preferences, automakers can offer a highly personalized experience, adapting cockpit settings without voice commands. Zhipu’s AI Car Assistant demonstrated the power of local large language models (LLMs) running on Intel’s compute platform. The demo highlighted the ability to execute complex vehicle control commands through natural language processing, answer vehicle-related questions accurately, and even engage in leisurely chat with users, providing a more interactive and enjoyable journey.

• Enhanced Productivity, Gaming and Entertainment: Turn the vehicle into a mobile office and entertainment hub with immersive 4K displays, multiscreen setups and advanced 3D interfaces.

• Intel’s AI PC Accelerator Program: Bringing together more than 100 independent software vendors (ISV) partners who have created 500+ features and AI apps, immediately providing an unparalleled ecosystem that can be leveraged within the vehicle.

The increased compute power offered by the dGPU opens a world of possibilities for automakers to differentiate their brands today, with the added confidence they are ready to deliver a new level of AI-driven experiences to their customers tomorrow, Intel said.

Intel aims to be the go-to partner for automakers, with its XPU strategy, robust AI accelerator software ecosystem and optimization capabilities.