Qualcomm introduces AI to Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 for smartphones
At its Snapdragon Summit 2022, Qualcomm Technologies announced the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 mobile platform which enables AI experiences like faster natural language processing with multi-language translation. It also supports INT4, an AI precision format.
Snapdragon Sight technology adds new Cognitive ISP to power real time semantic segmentation for photo and video capture. Based on an upgraded Qualcomm Hexagon processor, users can experience faster natural language processing with multi-language translation and advanced AI camera features, said Qualcomm. It uses an AI neural network to make the camera contextually aware of faces, facial features, hair, clothes, skies and other features and to optimise them individually so every detail receives customised professional image tuning. Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 is also tuned to support new image sensors. For example, Sony Semiconductor Solutions is the first to develop quad digital overlap HDR technology which is fine-tuned for Snapdragon. The Samsung ISOCELL HP3, is the first 200Mpixel image sensor optimised for Snapdragon 8 Gen 2. This is also the first Snapdragon to include an AV1 codec with support for video playback up to 8K HDR at 60 frames per second.
The Hexagon processor features architecture upgrades, including micro tile inferencing and a bigger tensor accelerator for up to 4.35 times increased AI performance. Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 is the first Snapdragon mobile platform to support INT4, with 60 per cent performance/watt improvement for sustained AI inferencing, Qualcomm reported.
The Sensing Hub consists of dual AI processors and supports intuitive experiences that enable custom wake words. There are also features and tools from the Qualcomm AI Stack, including the AI Studio.
The Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 also introduces Snapdragon Elite Gaming features with the industry standard for real time hardware-accelerated ray tracing.
Snapdragon Connect enhancements bring what is believed to be the world’s first 5G AI processor in a mobile platform. Qualcomm also claims that it is the only commercial Wi-Fi 7 SoC with high band simultaneous multi-link.
To support spatial audio, Snapdragon Sound technology supports dynamic head tracking for immersive gaming and multimedia experiences.
The Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 is expected to be launched in commercial devices by the end of 2022. The new mobile platform will be adopted by OEMs and brands including Asus Republic of Gamers, Honor, iQOO, Motorola, nubia, OnePlus, OPPO, RedMagic, Redmi, Sharp, Sony, vivo, Xiaomi, Xingji/Meizu and ZTE.
