Intel is bringing graphics cards to cars

Intel has unveiled a discrete GPU (graphics processing unit, sometimes called a graphics or video card) for cars, the Arc A760A, designed to bring the “triple-A gaming experience” from home over to your car, the company announced. No automotive partners were revealed, but vehicles with the new chips will go on sale as soon as 2025. 

With car buyers increasingly focused on in-vehicle entertainment above all else, the chips are designed to “unlock a new era of AI-powered cockpit experiences,” according to Intel’s press release. 

The GPUs will allow voice, camera and gesture recognition to make it easy to control up to “seven high-definition screens rendering 3D graphics and six in-vehicle cameras and interactive features.” At the same time, it can supposedly run demanding triple-A gaming titles, in-vehicle entertainment and AI-powered productivity apps.

The system will also be highly personalized to the driver. It’ll include 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,” according to Intel.

Intel added that it has created more than 500 features and AI apps for automobiles, with more than 100 independent software vendors working on in-vehicle experiences. In addition, the A760A will be fully compatible with software developed for its iGPU PC platform, while scaling from entry- and mid-tier vehicles up to higher-end cars. 

Intel said it wants to be the “go-to partner for automakers.” It’s clearly looking to diversify its offerings in the wake of quality-control problems with recent PC chips and financial woes that may see it lay off up to 15,000 employees.