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 carry its environment friendly computing structure to automobiles within the U.S.

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

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

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

Qualcomm executives stated they count on 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 street, Qualcomm is planning to carry its environment friendly computing structure to U.S. automobiles. 

I went on a demo trip 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 automobile may concurrently play music, show 3D navigation, monitor the driving force, and keep velocity and distance whereas staying centered within the lane.

Parekh stated Qualcomm calls having all these purposes on one platform “combined 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 automobile equivalent to pulling up (and taking part in) sure music or mapping a brand new path to lunch. Unreal Engine supplies display graphics, together with a real-time 3D rendering of the car that exhibits whether or not a door is open and which route the wheels are pointing.

The demo trip I took was solely outfitted with one digicam, a radar unit, and a driver monitoring digicam. Thought of a mid-tier bundle, with Stage 2 driving solely accessible on the freeway, the automobile 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 street, that was type of the purpose. Increasingly more 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 identical time.

Gizmodo is on the bottom in Las Vegas all week bringing you every little thing it’s worthwhile to know concerning the tech unveiled at CES 2026. You possibly can observe our CES live blog here and find all our coverage here.