Qualcomm Desires You to Know That Its New Automotive Chip Has Multitasking Baked In

Qualcomm confirmed off its all-in-one Flex SoC (System on a Chip) at CES on Monday and introduced plans to convey its environment friendly computing structure to automobiles within the U.S.

(Observe: Qualcomm sponsored my journey to CES by offering journey, lodging, and meals. No different compensation was obtained and Qualcomm had no editorial enter or affect on my content material.)

The message Qualcomm is sending out at CES is easy: flexibility. The chipmaker is already a longtime accomplice for a lot of automakers behind the scenes, offering infotainment options, security options, and superior driving methods. The Flex SoC, nonetheless, can management each driver help and infotainment options, Qualcomm mentioned. It’s supposed to cut back complexity of software program and {hardware} methods for carmakers, and, in flip, scale back prices in order that fundamental superior driving options could be included as customary. 

As Nilesh Parekh, a senior director for Snapdragon Trip Flex merchandise, defined throughout a demo experience outdoors of the W Las Vegas resort, the Flex SoC is exclusive as a result of it mixes completely different use circumstances on the identical chip.

Qualcomm executives mentioned they anticipate all future automobiles to have contact and show screens and a few fundamental security options, even in entry-level fashions. Already launched in China and on the highway, Qualcomm is planning to convey its environment friendly computing structure to U.S. automobiles. 

I went on a demo experience as a passenger in a Lincoln Aviator outfitted with Qualcomm tech powering the infotainment system and assisted driving options. Whereas on the freeway, I noticed how the automotive may concurrently play music, show 3D navigation, monitor the driving force, and keep pace and distance whereas staying centered within the lane.

Parekh mentioned Qualcomm calls having all these purposes on one platform “blended criticality”—particularly since some options are security oriented, whereas others, like music choice, are clearly not.

Google’s AI assistant is constructed into Qualcomm’s system, which makes use of Gemini to reply questions like several AI chatbot however may also assist with “native” requests on the automotive similar to pulling up (and taking part in) sure music or mapping a brand new path to lunch. Unreal Engine offers display screen graphics, together with a real-time 3D rendering of the automobile that reveals whether or not a door is open and which path the wheels are pointing.

The demo experience I took was solely outfitted with one digicam, a radar unit, and a driver monitoring digicam. Thought-about a mid-tier bundle, with Stage 2 driving solely out there on the freeway, the automotive required fixed consideration from the driving force. A extra premium bundle has a bigger sensor suite to provide extra information to Qualcomm’s driver help system. 

Whereas the demo was easy, showcasing options many people use day by day on the highway, that was form of the purpose. An increasing number of automobiles are going to be anticipated to supply fundamental freeway help and touchscreen graphics with an in-cabin chat bot answering all our questions—and all on the similar time.

Gizmodo is on the bottom in Las Vegas all week bringing you every thing that you must know concerning the tech unveiled at CES 2026. You’ll be able to observe our CES live blog here and find all our coverage here.