Latest news with #HexagonNPU
Yahoo
a day ago
- Yahoo
New Snapdragon AR1+ Gen 1 Chip Could Make Glasses Smarter and Self-Reliant
Qualcomm has launched the Snapdragon AR1+ Gen 1 processor for smart glasses. The chip lets smart glasses run AI directly on the device without needing a phone or cloud connection for processing or other functions. The idea is that users can go about their daily tasks using only their smart glasses. A big change in the AR1+ Gen 1 is its smaller size, which is about 28% more compact than the previous AR1 Gen 1 chip, as reported by Engadget. This means that manufacturers can now design glasses with 20% shorter temple arms (arms of the glasses). The chip also uses less power during tasks such as computer vision, wake with voice, Bluetooth playback, and video streaming, the report said. The new processor also improves image quality for smart glasses. It supports binocular displays, image stabilization, and a multi-frame engine. The camera on the glasses can capture 12MP photos and 6MP videos, and it supports features like face detection and facial landmark detection. Saving the best for the last, on-device AI powered by Qualcomm's third-generation Hexagon NPU. The chip can run small language models with up to 1 billion parameters, such as Llama 1B, directly on the glasses. This lets users interact with an AI assistant by speaking commands and seeing responses displayed as text on the glasses. The company says this is the first time an autoregressive generative AI model has run completely on a pair of smart glasses. The company says its new chip will help make future smart glasses slimmer and more independent.
Engadget
3 days ago
- Business
- Engadget
Qualcomm says its new AR1+ Gen 1 chip can handle AI directly on smart glasses
Qualcomm's has launched its latest processor for smart glasses, and though it's a modest upgrade over the previous chip, it has a new trick. The Snapdragon AR1+ Gen 1 can run AI directly on devices with no need for a smartphone or cloud connection, allowing users to go out or do chores with only their smart glasses, the company claims. The chip could appear in next-gen AR glasses from the likes of Meta and XReal. Smart glasses often require large temple arms to accommodate chips and other components, but the AR1+ Gen 1 is 28 percent smaller than the the AR1 Gen 1, so it allows for a 20 percent temple height reduction. At the same time, it requires less power across key use cases including computer vision, wake with voice, Bluetooth playback and video streaming. Qualcomm also promises "premium" image quality via technologies like binocular display support, image stabilization and a massive multi-frame engine. The key feature, though, is the on-glass AI powered by Qualcomm's 3rd-gen Hexagon NPU, with 1 billion small language model (SLM) parameters on-glass. That allows it to run AI assistants that use SLMs like Llama 1B, with users speaking commands and seeing the results displayed on the glasses as text. "While on stage, I was at the 'supermarket' and asked my glasses for help with fettuccine alfredo I needed to make for my daughter's birthday party," wrote Qualcomm SVP of XR Ziad Asghar. "This demonstration was a world's first: an Autoregressive Generative AI model running completely on a pair of smart glasses." Qualcomm shouted out Meta's Ray-Ban glasses as well as its chunky Orion AR glasses prototype as examples of where smart glass technology is heading. It then added that tech like its Snapdragon AR1+ Gen 1 chip will enable "sleeker form factors that don't compromise on the ability to run AI models." Reading between the lines, you can expect the chip to appear in ever-slimmer standalone AI-powered smart glasses in the near future.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Qualcomm to acquire Alphawave Semi in $2.4bn deal
Qualcomm has agreed to acquire UK-based semiconductor company Alphawave Semi at an implied enterprise value of approximately $2.4bn. Alphawave Semi specialises in high-speed wired connectivity and compute technologies, offering IP, custom silicon, connectivity products, and chiplets. These products are integral to the core infrastructure, enabling next-generation services across various high-growth applications, including data centres, AI, data networking, and data storage. The Alphawave board has unanimously recommended the deal. In April, Qualcomm confirmed that it was evaluating the possibility of making an offer to acquire Alphawave. Through this deal, Qualcomm intends to further expedite and offer key assets for its expansion into data centres. Qualcomm said its Oryon CPU and Hexagon NPU processors are positioned to meet the increasing demand for high-performance, low-power computing. This demand is driven by a rapid rise in AI inferencing and the shift towards custom CPUs in data centres. Alphawave Semi president and CEO Tony Pialis said: 'By combining our resources and expertise, we will be well-positioned to expand our product offerings, reach a broader customer base, and enhance our technological capabilities. 'Together, we will unlock new opportunities for growth, drive innovation, and create a leading player in AI compute and connectivity solutions.' Subject to certain conditions and regulatory approvals, the deal is anticipated to be completed during the first calendar quarter of 2026. Qualcomm president and CEO Cristiano Amon said: 'Under Tony's leadership Alphawave Semi has developed leading high-speed wired connectivity and compute technologies that are complementary to our power-efficient CPU and NPU cores. 'Qualcomm's advanced custom processors are a natural fit for data centre workloads. The combined teams share the goal of building advanced technology solutions and enabling next-level connected computing performance across a wide array of high growth areas, including data centre infrastructure.' "Qualcomm to acquire Alphawave Semi in $2.4bn deal" was originally created and published by Verdict, a GlobalData owned brand. The information on this site has been included in good faith for general informational purposes only. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely, and we give no representation, warranty or guarantee, whether express or implied as to its accuracy or completeness. You must obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content on our site. Sign in to access your portfolio
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Qualcomm Bets $2.4 Billion On Alphawave To Power AI Data Centers
Qualcomm Inc (NASDAQ:QCOM) announced on Monday that it has agreed to acquire semiconductor company Alphawave IP Group Plc for approximately $2.4 billion in cash. The purchase price implies 183 pence per share for Alphawave, implying close to a 96% premium to the price immediately before Qualcomm disclosed its interest in the company. The acquisition of Alphawave Semi aims to further accelerate, and provide key assets for, Qualcomm's expansion into data centers. Qualcomm Oryon CPU and Hexagon NPU processors are well positioned to meet the growing demand for high-performance, low-power computing, which is being driven by a rapid increase in AI inferencing and the transition to custom CPUs in data centers, the company said in a press release. Also Read: The deal, subject to regulatory and shareholder approval, will likely close in the first quarter of 2026. Qualcomm held $13.85 billion in cash and equivalents as of March 31, 2025. In May, JP Morgan analyst Samik Chatterjee said Alphawave has higher strategic importance for Qualcomm, which has recently more explicitly outlined its intent to pursue the data center market as another pillar of growth and diversification. The analyst said Alphawave's acquisition and capabilities regarding data center connectivity IP would complement its earlier acquisition of Nuvia and its capabilities for designing data center CPUs and AI inference chips based on custom ARM cores. Chatterjee expects Alphawave's breadth of capabilities to add to Qualcomm's portfolio, positioning the company to benefit from tailwinds related to strong growth in Custom silicon and ASIC adoption within AI infrastructure and development in content about connectivity products within AI data centers. He added that Alphawave's immediate contribution to Qualcomm's financial performance is unlikely material, but the company expects synergies from its entry into the broader data center TAM. Price Action: QCOM stock is trading higher by 0.19% to $149.52 premarket at last check Monday. Read Next:Photo via Shutterstock Up Next: Transform your trading with Benzinga Edge's one-of-a-kind market trade ideas and tools. Click now to access unique insights that can set you ahead in today's competitive market. Get the latest stock analysis from Benzinga? QUALCOMM (QCOM): Free Stock Analysis Report This article Qualcomm Bets $2.4 Billion On Alphawave To Power AI Data Centers originally appeared on © 2025 Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved. Sign in to access your portfolio
Business Wire
4 days ago
- Business
- Business Wire
Qualcomm to Acquire Alphawave Semi
LONDON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Qualcomm Incorporated (NASDAQ: QCOM) today announced that it has reached an agreement with Alphawave IP Group plc (AWE.L) ('Alphawave Semi') regarding the terms and conditions of a recommended acquisition by Aqua Acquisition Sub LLC, an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of Qualcomm Incorporated, for the entire issued and to be issued ordinary share capital of Alphawave Semi at an implied enterprise value of approximately US$2.4 billion. The acquisition of Alphawave Semi aims to further accelerate, and provide key assets for, Qualcomm's expansion into data centers. Qualcomm Oryon CPU and Hexagon NPU processors are well positioned to meet the growing demand for high-performance, low-power computing, which is being driven by a rapid increase in AI inferencing and the transition to custom CPUs in data centers. Alphawave Semi is a global leader in high-speed wired connectivity and compute technologies delivering IP, custom silicon, connectivity products and chiplets that drive faster, more reliable data transfer with higher performance and lower power consumption. Alphawave Semi's products form a part of the core infrastructure enabling next generation services in a wide array of high growth applications, including data centers, AI, data networking and data storage. 'Under Tony's leadership Alphawave Semi has developed leading high-speed wired connectivity and compute technologies that are complementary to our power-efficient CPU and NPU cores,' said Cristiano Amon, president and CEO of Qualcomm Incorporated. 'Qualcomm's advanced custom processors are a natural fit for data center workloads. The combined teams share the goal of building advanced technology solutions and enabling next-level connected computing performance across a wide array of high growth areas, including data center infrastructure.' 'Qualcomm's acquisition of Alphawave Semi represents a significant milestone for us and an opportunity for our business to join forces with a respected industry leader and drive value to our customers,' said Tony Pialis, president and CEO of Alphawave Semi. 'By combining our resources and expertise, we will be well-positioned to expand our product offerings, reach a broader customer base, and enhance our technological capabilities. Together, we will unlock new opportunities for growth, drive innovation, and create a leading player in AI compute and connectivity solutions.' This acquisition of Alphawave Semi is expected to complete during the first calendar quarter of 2026, subject to the satisfaction or waiver (where applicable) of certain conditions as set forth in the announcement released today in accordance with Rule 2.7 of the UK Takeover Code, including (amongst other things) certain regulatory approvals, the approval from the requisite majority of Alphawave Semi's shareholders and sanction by the High Court in the UK. The full announcement, issued in accordance with Rule 2.7 of the UK Takeover Code, can be found on our website at: About Qualcomm Qualcomm relentlessly innovates to deliver intelligent computing everywhere, helping the world tackle some of its most important challenges. Building on our 40 years of technology leadership in creating era-defining breakthroughs, we deliver a broad portfolio of solutions built with our leading-edge AI, high-performance, low-power computing, and connectivity. Our Snapdragon® platforms power extraordinary consumer experiences, and our Qualcomm Dragonwing™ products empower businesses and industries to scale to new heights. Together with our ecosystem partners, we enable next-generation digital transformation to enrich lives, improve businesses, and advance societies. At Qualcomm, we are engineering human progress. Qualcomm Incorporated includes our licensing business, QTL, and the vast majority of our patent portfolio. Qualcomm Technologies, Inc., a subsidiary of Qualcomm Incorporated, operates, along with its subsidiaries, substantially all of our engineering and research and development functions and substantially all of our products and services businesses, including our QCT semiconductor business. Snapdragon and Qualcomm branded products are products of Qualcomm Technologies, Inc. and/or its subsidiaries. Qualcomm patents are licensed by Qualcomm Incorporated. Qualcomm, Snapdragon, Qualcomm Dragonwing, Qualcomm Oryon, and Hexagon are trademarks or registered trademarks of Qualcomm Incorporated.
