MediaTek is working on developing a new Arm-based chip for PCs that will be running Microsoft’s Windows operating system. This information was revealed by three sources familiar with the matter to the news agency Reuters. The Taiwanese chip maker is collaborating with Qualcomm, Intel, and AMD, who have also announced their own chips that will power Copilot+ AI PCs. While the Qualcomm, Intel, and AMD chips are expected to hit the market in the coming months, the AMD chips may not be available until next year.
According to the report, MediaTek’s PC chip is slated to be launched late next year after Qualcomm’s exclusive deal to provide chips for laptops expires. Microsoft had previously partnered with Qualcomm in 2016 to lead the transition of the Windows operating system to Arm’s processor architecture. This architecture is commonly found in smartphones due to its energy efficiency. Qualcomm was given an exclusivity agreement to develop Arm-based Windows-compatible chips until 2024.
The upcoming MediaTek chip for AI PCs will be based on Arm’s existing designs, which can significantly expedite the development process since ready-made components are utilized. In fact, executives at Arm have shared that a customer was able to build a chip using these components in just nine months, a much shorter timeline compared to the industry standard. On the other hand, MediaTek’s chip design is still a work in progress, and typical chip design companies take well over a year to develop and test advanced chips, depending on their complexity.
Microsoft recently introduced a new line of laptops called Copilot+ PCs, which are powered by chips utilizing Arm Holdings’ technology. These PCs are equipped with built-in AI hardware capable of running AI workloads up to 20 times more powerfully and 100 times more efficiently than other PCs. The silicon chips in Copilot+ PCs can perform over 40 trillion operations per second (TOPS) and have access to advanced AI models.
In conclusion, the collaboration between MediaTek, Qualcomm, Intel, and AMD in developing chips for AI PCs marks a significant advancement in the industry. The introduction of Copilot+ PCs with enhanced AI capabilities will likely revolutionize the PC market and pave the way for more efficient and powerful computing devices in the future.
