MediaTek’s chips power over 2 billion devices worldwide in a single year. This speaks volumes about the company’s significant grasp in the semiconductor space. Its chips power smartphones, automobiles, VR headsets and even wifi routers and satellites. 

Today, the company’s processors are also behind some of the most advanced AI smartphones in the market. For instance, the Vivo X100 series smartphone released last year, marketed by the smartphone maker as the ‘industry’s first AI phone’, is powered by MediaTek’s chipset.

MediaTek’s AI processor allows Vivo to run a 7 billion parameter language model and a 1 billion parameter vision model locally on the device.

At the Forefront of AI Revolution

AI could kickstart a new smartphone upgrade cycle. Last year, the Taiwanese semiconductor company announced its latest AI processor Dimensity 9300. The chipset is equipped with MediaTek’s next-generation APU 790 processor. This processor boasts a remarkable 45% reduction in power consumption alongside enhanced performance. Its processing speed is eight times faster than its predecessor, the APU 690. 

Notably, it delivers significant advancements in generative AI performance and energy efficiency for edge computing applications. The APU 790 is purpose-built for generative AI tasks, representing a significant leap forward in capabilities compared to its forerunner.

The APU 790 introduces support for NeuroPilot Fusion, enabling seamless LoRA low-rank adaptation and facilitating the utilisation of large language models featuring 1B, 7B, and 13B parameters, with scalability extended up to 33B.

While MediaTek leads the low-mid segment smartphone market, Dimensity 9300 puts the company in direct competition with Qualcomm in the premium segment. 

“The Market Analytics report 2023, published by IDC and Counterpoint, reveals MediaTek’s dominance with a 49% share in the smartphone market, compared to the competition’s 24% share. This sustained leadership position spans nearly a year, both in India and globally,” Anuj Sidharth, deputy director, marketing and corporate communications, told AIM.

Powering Autonomous Vehicles 

Recently, MediaTek announced that it is partnering with Graphics Processing Units (GPU) maker NVIDIA to make four new automotive chips for connected and autonomous vehicles – the new Dimensity CV-1, CM-1, CY-1, and CX-1.

The new chips, ranging from CV-1 for entry-level in-vehicle experiences to CX-1 for premium experiences, will integrate AI processing capabilities and an NVIDIA RTX GPU. Furthermore, the platform will be compatible with NVIDIA’s Drive OS software.

As the automotive industry transitions towards electric or self-driving vehicles, it opens the door for innovation and building AI-powered cars.  AI can come into play in cockpit solutions, Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) to battery management systems. 

“The MediaTek cockpit solution, based on flagship three-nanometer technology, offers top-notch performance and user experience. It supports up to eight screens in the car, enabling immersive entertainment like music and social media. While security measures prioritise passenger safety, the solution enhances in-vehicle enjoyment for passengers,” Sidharth said.

Moreover, in India, the two-wheeler EV segment is growing significantly accounting for more than half of all EV sales. Sidharth added, saying that MediaTek’s solutions also power two-wheeler EVs in the country.

The electric two-wheelers in the market, whether from Ola or Ather, are leading companies in this sector, and feature large screens and their own infotainment systems. We all remember Bhavish Aggarwal, founder of Ola, dancing to a song played on one of Ola’s two-wheeler EVs. 

Supporting Innovation for India

Earlier this year, the non-profit EPIC Foundation introduced the inaugural ‘Designed in India’ tablet, ‘Milkyway’, specifically targeting the education sector. The tablet was developed by VVDN Technologies and powered by MediaTek’s chipset. 

Moreover, MediaTek also powers the Primebook brand of affordable laptops. Primebook has sold four variants of 4G SIM-enabled Android laptops in India’s INR 13,000-16,000 price segment and grabbed a 3% market share in its first year.

Primebooks are assembled by Opteimus Electronics and VVDN and sold by Delhi-based Floydwiz Technologies in India. It competes with Google’s Chromebook as well as Reliance JioBook, which MediaTek again powers.

While these are not high-end or AI-powered chipsets, MediaTek is nonetheless supporting the growing manufacturing sector in India.