If you have an Intel or AMD “AI computer,” that means you have a neural processing unit (NPU) built in, along with the typical CPU cores and graphics. And if you weren’t aware of this, it looks like – at least for Intel NPUs – you’ll have another driver that you can potentially update regularly. Even if you don’t care about the AI features of Windows PCs, these driver updates include security patches to fix issues and add features, so it’s probably a good idea to deploy these updates carefully.
If you are using an Intel NPU on a Windows 10 computer rather than a Windows 11 computer, Intel also recommends completely disabling the NPU in the BIOS, rather than leaving the device or its drivers turned on. What happens if NO it’s not clear (probably nothing in most situations), but leaving a potentially useless NPU enabled could serve as an attack vector or contribute to system instability.
Either way, the latest Intel NPU driver was released on October 11. Intel NPU driver version 32.0.100.3053 adds support for OpenVINO 2024.4 and Arrow Lake processors. These are minor but expected changes ahead of the full launch of Arrow Lake processors scheduled for October 24. We will then do a full review of some of the processors where we will independently test Intel’s next-generation desktop processors, novel socket, and novel architecture.
Arrow Lake and its Intel Core Ultra design should completely eliminate the hardware issues that have infamously plagued Intel’s 13th and 14th generation “Raptor Lake” processors, so that’s at least what we can look forward to. Of course, since this is a completely novel platform and architecture, many other issues may arise over time.
But back to NPU drivers. Fixed issues include improvements to Microsoft Copilot performance and accuracy, as well as adjustments to the “UD40 driver version number.” There are also fixes for the Lenovo View Video Amplifier, Krisp model loading issue, and enabling and optimizing face/eye tracking and 2D/3D conversion. Lenovo View Video Enhancer, for those unfamiliar, is a component of the Lenovo View device driver (for Lenovo devices, but especially AI-enabled ThinkPads) that provides better video calling features, including quality adjustments, background hiding, and even minor health warnings.
Intel has already established a regular NPU driver update frequency by analyzing release history. Generally, a novel version of the driver is released every month, sometimes enabling novel devices (like the Keem Bay video processor), more often just fixing a few bugs. However, we would expect NPU driver updates from Intel’s competitors to be just as significant in the coming years, especially if AI PC and Copilot+ features really come into their own.
