Today, Qualcomm unveiled two new flagship mobile processors named Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 and Snapdragon 8 Elite Extreme Gen 6, emphasizing enhancements for AI-centric functionalities.

During its yearly Snapdragon Summit, Qualcomm highlighted that the latest chips could support enhanced personalization for AI assistants. These processors feature innovative sensing hubs capable of handling compact models with up to 200 million parameters. Thanks to the new sensing hub, smartphones can locally operate a personal assistant and recognize different speakers. Additionally, it can generate user-based memory to improve suggestions for task automation. The company mentioned it could support a complete voice-in and voice-out assistant via the new chip.

The Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 incorporates a new accelerator designed for more effective model execution. The high-end Extreme variant can execute a mixture-of-experts (MoE) model with 30 billion parameters on-site. This implies that although the total model comprises 30B, it activates only a select number of parameters for specific tasks.

In contrast, at its Worldwide Developer Conference (WWDC) in June, Apple unveiled a mixture-of-experts model with 20 billion parameters, representing the pinnacle of its third generation of foundation models.

The new Qualcomm CPU also offers pixel-level control for camera systems, enhancing professional-grade experiences, alongside refined stabilization and motion interpretation. The Extreme variant is capable of 8K video recording at 60fps and 4K240 for ultra HD slow-motion. It also introduces the Advanced Professional Video (APV) codec for high-quality recordings.

Furthermore, both chips leverage AI technology to enhance vocal clarity and minimize background noise. It also features Qualcomm’s innovative voice bubble technology, which isolates the user’s voice during conversations.

At the event, Motorola revealed its Motorola Signature 27 smartphone, powered by the Snapdragon 8 Elite Extreme Gen 6, with general release expected later this year.

Qualcomm has been developing over 40 AI devices, yet there remains a consensus that many individuals will prefer using their phones for AI applications instead of separate devices. Nothing co-founder Carl Pei has previously indicated this trend, and more recently, new Apple CEO John Ternus echoed the same sentiment during the iPhone Duo introduction earlier this month.