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Announced at Google I/O 2021: Regular Google NNAPI updates to Qualcomm Snapdragon mobile platforms

Google, Google Assistant, Android, Google Maps and other marks are trademarks of Google LLC.
Google, Google Assistant, Android, Google Maps and other marks are trademarks of Google LLC.

Getting the latest software updates and features on your smartphone is key to a better user experience and adds excitement to the devices you use all the time. In late 2019, Qualcomm Technologies announced GPU updateable drivers — a first in the mobile industry. Just like how you get updates on your desktop GPUs, smartphone users are now able to update their GPU to take advantage of potential performance and feature gains.

Today we have exciting news to share, working together with Google, we are expanding updatable drivers in the AI realm for Snapdragon mobile platforms. Starting later this year, Qualcomm Technologies and Google will start offering regular updates for NNAPI. The drivers will be made available to devices via Google Play Services, it will automatically update in the background, and the updatable NNAPI drivers will not only work on the latest and greatest Snapdragon processors but will also be backward compatible with older Snapdragon processors as well. This will allow for regular updates to Google Assistant and Google Maps (among other applications) to help make the user experience better, smarter, and more intuitive.

On top of that, Qualcomm Technologies has been a strong proponent of driving alignment in the Android ecosystem for years. Since initially announcing our Qualcomm Neural Processing SDK, we have been making regular updates monthly and making such update available to our OEMs and partners, making sure they always have the latest APIs and math operators for AI applications. Not only can you see improved AI performance by running popular industry benchmarks, some of your favorite apps will also benefit from these updates Qualcomm Technologies regularly makes available to our partners that can help make those apps faster and more responsive.

 

We can’t wait to see Snapdragon powered devices take full advantage of the updatable AI drivers to add new features and help make your favorite applications run even faster— giving you the experience you deserve.

Hey developers!

How is Qualcomm Neural Processing SDK helping developers run models and save time?

Qualcomm Snapdragon, and Qualcomm Neural Processing SDK are products of Qualcomm Technologies, Inc. and/or its subsidiaries.

Opinions expressed in the content posted here are the personal opinions of the original authors, and do not necessarily reflect those of Qualcomm Incorporated or its subsidiaries ("Qualcomm"). The content is provided for informational purposes only and is not meant to be an endorsement or representation by Qualcomm or any other party. This site may also provide links or references to non-Qualcomm sites and resources. Qualcomm makes no representations, warranties, or other commitments whatsoever about any non-Qualcomm sites or third-party resources that may be referenced, accessible from, or linked to this site.

About the Authors
Jeff Gehlhaar
Jeff GehlhaarVice President of Technology, Qualcomm Technologies, Inc.
Ziad Asghar
Ziad AsgharSVP & GM, XR, Qualcomm Technologies, Inc.
Qualcomm relentlessly innovates to deliver intelligent computing everywhere, helping the world tackle some of its most important challenges. Our leading-edge AI, high performance, low-power computing, and unrivaled connectivity deliver proven solutions that transform major industries. At Qualcomm, we are engineering human progress.

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