Qualcomm is enabling the large-scale commercialization of AI on devices. (Source – Qualcomm).
- Qualcomm unveils advanced AI technologies at MWC Barcelona, enhancing mobile experiences with new Snapdragon products and the AI Hub.
- Qualcomm brought a series of innovations to MWC.
- Qualcomm reveals cutting-edge AI models, claiming leadership in mobile and PC technology advancements.
Qualcomm Technologies, Inc. made a significant impact at Mobile World Congress (MWC) in Barcelona by unveiling its latest advances in AI. These innovations, which encompass the new Qualcomm AI Hub and a suite of AI-powered commercial devices, leverage the Snapdragon and Qualcomm platforms to improve user experience and deliver robust tools to developers across different device types .
Durga Malladi, Senior Vice President and General Manager of Qualcomm Technologies, Inc., introduced Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 for smartphones and Snapdragon X Elite for PCs. These products mark a significant step forward in the adoption of AI on devices. Qualcomm AI Hub, developed under Malladi’s leadership, is designed to maximize the potential of these technologies, making it easier to create compelling AI-driven applications. The Hub, with its extensive library of AI models, simplifies the integration of pre-optimized AI models into applications, improving speed, reliability and privacy.
The Hub offers a comprehensive collection of over 75 pre-optimized and generative AI models, including Whisper, ControlNet, Stable Diffusion and Baichuan 7B. Optimized for Snapdragon and Qualcomm platforms, these models improve AI efficiency, reduce memory usage, and improve power conservation across different device form factors. The Qualcomm AI Engine accelerates hardware, enabling inference up to four times faster. This allows developers to seamlessly integrate these models into their applications, reducing time to market and unlocking the benefits of on-device AI, such as immediacy and privacy.
These optimized models are accessible on Qualcomm AI Hub, GitHub, and Hugging Face, with the Hub continually updated with new models and expanded support for various platforms and operating systems. Developers are encouraged to use these models on cloud-hosted devices powered by Qualcomm Technologies platforms for early access to new AI features and models.
Clément Delangue, co-founder and CEO of Hugging Face, said he was excited about hosting Qualcomm Technologies’ AI models. Optimized for Snapdragon and Qualcomm platforms, these models are poised to revolutionize mobile development and cutting-edge AI applications, making AI more accessible.
Groundbreaking AI Advances from Qualcomm AI Research
Qualcomm AI Research demonstrated the Large Language and Vision Assistant (LLaVA) on an Android smartphone for the first time. This large multimodal model, with more than 7 billion parameters, processes text and images to facilitate complex interactions with an AI assistant, improving privacy, reliability and personalization.
He also demonstrated the first implementation of Low Rank Adaptation (LoRA) on an Android smartphone. Using Stable Diffusion with LoRA, users can generate personalized images. LoRA optimizes AI models for efficiency and scalability, expanding the reach from language vision models to personalized AI assistants.
Cutting-edge advances in AI research. (Source – Qualcomm).
On the Windows PC front, Qualcomm AI Research demonstrated a large multimodal model of more than 7 billion parameters that processes text and audio input, generating detailed conversations over audio.
Showcasing Generative AI Capabilities Across Device Categories at MWC Barcelona
Qualcomm Technologies has demonstrated its generative AI capabilities across various device categories:
- Smartphones: Flagship AI smartphones like the Honor Magic6 Pro, OPPO X7 Ultra and Xiaomi 14 Pro were showcased, each with unique generative AI features.
- PC: The Snapdragon X Elite’s on-device AI capabilities were demonstrated using the GIMP image editor, highlighting rapid image creation using generative AI.
- Automotive: AI-based features have been demonstrated with the Snapdragon digital chassis platform, aiming to improve the driving experience.
- Consumer IoT: The Humane AI Pin, a new screenless AI device running on Snapdragon, was introduced.
- 5G Connectivity and Infrastructure: Snapdragon X80 Modem-RF system and Qualcomm FastConnect 7900, the first AI-optimized Wi-Fi 7 system, were introduced. Additionally, AI enhancements in network management were demonstrated, including an AI assistant for RAN engineers, an AI-based open RAN application, and a 5G network slice lifecycle management suite .
The Snapdragon X80 5G and FastConnect 7900 Modem-RF system
Qualcomm also announced the Snapdragon X80 5G Modem-RF system, the seventh generation of its 5G modem-to-antenna solution. The Snapdragon X80, equipped with a dedicated 5G AI processor and 5G-Advanced compatible architecture, achieves several world-first milestones. It is the first 5G modem with fully integrated support for NB-NTN satellite communications and introduces a 6-antenna architecture for smartphones, 6X carrier aggregation and AI-based mmWave range extension for fixed wireless access equipment at the customer’s premises (CPE).
Snapdragon and multi-antenna management. Malladi highlighted the Snapdragon X80’s role in advancing 5G and intelligent computing, highlighting Qualcomm Technologies’ synergy between cutting-edge AI and modem-RF technology. The Snapdragon
The Snapdragon X80 5G modem-RF system. (Source – Qualcomm).
The recently introduced FastConnect 7900 is a revolutionary Wi-Fi 7 system, the first to deliver AI-powered performance integrating Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth and Ultra Wideband in one single chip. Using AI, the FastConnect 7900 adapts to various environments, optimizing power consumption, network latency and throughput. It integrates Ultra Wideband technology, Wi-Fi Ranging and Bluetooth Channel Sounding, creating a suite of proximity technologies for enhanced security and device management.
Javier del Prado, vice president and general manager of mobile connectivity at Qualcomm Technologies, Inc., hailed the FastConnect 7900 as a technological marvel, setting new standards in Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth while integrating the Ultra Wideband on a 6nm chip. Building on the heritage of Qualcomm’s first-generation Wi-Fi 7 technology, the FastConnect 7900 introduces a new connectivity paradigm, bringing advanced AI, proximity and multi-device experiences to popular devices.
Qualcomm’s showcase at MWC Barcelona isn’t just about new product launches; this is undoubtedly a testament to its relentless pursuit of innovation in the fields of AI and mobile technology. Whether it’s empowering developers with their AI Hub or pushing the boundaries with the Snapdragon series, Qualcomm is leading us toward a more connected, smarter future.
