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Qualcomm releases Android chip built for AI amid memory shortage
CNBC • • general
Key Points:
- Qualcomm unveiled its Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 chipsets, designed for premium Android smartphones with enhanced on-device AI capabilities to compete with Apple's A20 Pro chip.
- The new chips will be manufactured using TSMC's advanced 2-nanometer process and will power devices from brands like Motorola, Xiaomi, and ZTE.
- Qualcomm introduced two versions of the chipset, including an "extreme" variant with additional features, emphasizing AI processing that operates independently from the cloud.
- The launch occurs amid a shrinking global smartphone market, with a projected 14% decline in units shipped by 2026, prompting manufacturers to focus on premium devices for consumers with higher disposable incomes.
- Qualcomm CEO Cristiano Amon highlighted the shift from phone-centric to agentic-centric AI experiences, with the chipsets supporting complex AI models and enhanced security for managing sensitive data in background tasks.
