California-based AI and computing giant Nvidia will partner with Taiwanese firm MediaTek to enhance infotainment systems, which could bring features such as artificial intelligence (AI), video streaming, and gaming.
Announcing the partnership at the Computex conference in Taipei, MediaTek CEO Rick Tsai and Nvidia founder and CEO Jensen Huang explained the companies will co-develop a new graphics processing unit (GPU) chiplet which will allow Nvidia to expand its automotive infotainment offering.
MediaTek currently supplies system-on-chip (SoC) technology to automakers and will integrate Nvidia’s GPU and AI software to enhance the US firm’s infotainment offerings “across all vehicle segments, from luxury to entry-level”.
SoCs integrate the CPU (Central Processing Unit), GPU, RAM and other components on a single chiplet.
MediaTek will make use of Nvidia’s Drive, Drive IX, Cuda, and TensorRT operating systems on the new chiplet, ensuring Nvidia’s extensive advanced driver assistance systems and safety features are available to customers.
This new chiplet will provide the computing capabilities needed to support the rapid evolution and prevalent use of AI in automotive infotainment and safety features.
Potential uses could include driver monitoring systems to support automated driving; voice-activated features; and even in-cabin gaming and video streaming.
The Taiwanese firm’s existing Dimensity Auto platform supports video streaming, and its SoC software offers high-dynamic range cameras and audio processing and supports multiple displays.
Nvidia’s RTX graphics card can support gaming, with the firm originally gaining prominence by producing hardware that helps run PC and console games.
Mr Tsai envisions the partnership will create a “truly unique platform for the compute-intensive, software-defined vehicle of the future.”
The initial SoC products are planned to reach automakers in late 2025.
Also expected in 2025 is the integration of Nvidia’s platform into Jaguar, Land Rover, and Range Rover models.
Presumably, these future JLR models will benefit from the new technology afforded by this partnership, but the companies are yet to officially announce any automaker customers.
“With this partnership, our collaborative vision is to provide a global one-stop shop for the automotive industry, designing the next generation of intelligent, always-connected vehicles,” said Mr Tsai.
In-cabin entertainment is evolving rapidly as tech giants such as Google announce the introduction of new offerings such as YouTube on infotainment systems.
Tesla has also rolled out the integration of video game digital distribution service Steam in new Model S and Model X vehicles.
According to the press announcement from Nvidia, the partnership will give the company greater access to the SoC market, which is expected to reach US$12 billion (AU$18.35 billion) in value this year.
Nvidia’s company value surged to nearly US$1 trillion (AU$1.5 trillion) last week after its quarterly earnings report exceeded expectations.
