Microsoft Unveils Project Volterra to Bring Arm AI Chips to Windows
Microsoft introduces Project Volterra, a new developer device powered by Qualcomm's Snapdragon, to bring dedicated neural processing units to Windows. The mini PC aims to help developers build AI-powered applications using Arm-based architecture.
Microsoft unveils Project Volterra at Build 2022, a new developer device powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon platform that brings dedicated neural processing units to Windows. The hardware features support for neural processing units, which are specialized chips designed to handle AI and machine learning workloads efficiently. These dedicated AI chips significantly speed up processing while reducing battery drain, a technology that is already common in smartphones but is now making its way into laptop and desktop computers.
Project Volterra taps into the well-established ecosystem of Arm-based AI applications that exists thanks to iOS and Android. The device allows developers to build and test Arm-native apps using popular tools like Visual Studio, VSCode, Microsoft Office, and Teams. Microsoft highlights that the included neural processor offers top-tier AI computing capacity and efficiency as the company pushes to integrate AI capabilities directly into the Windows operating system.
This release demonstrates that Microsoft and Qualcomm maintain a strong partnership in the AI hardware space, even after the reported expiration of Qualcomm’s exclusivity deal for Windows on Arm licenses. Microsoft emphasizes its commitment to an open hardware ecosystem for Windows, stating that it constantly evolves the platform to support new and emerging hardware technologies. Project Volterra arrives later this year as a stepping stone toward broader AI integration across all Windows devices.