Intel Releases New NPU Drivers with Arrow Lake Support, Highlighting the Growing Importance of AI PC Maintenance

Intel releases NPU drivers with Arrow Lake support -- AI PC users will have yet another component that may require regular updates

If you own an "AI PC" from Intel or AMD, that means you have an onboard Neural Processing Unit (NPU) alongside your typical CPU cores and graphics. And if you weren't aware, it seems -- at least for Intel NPUs -- you'll have yet another driver to potentially update on a regular basis. Even if you don't bother with Windows' AI PC features, these driver updates include security fixes alongside fixing issues or adding features, so it's probably a good idea to be diligent with these updates. If you're using an Intel NPU on a Windows 10 PC rather than a Windows 11 PC, Intel also recommends that you outright disable the NPU within the BIOS rather than keeping it or its drivers enabled. What happens if you don't do this isn't clear (probably nothing for most situations), but leaving a potentially unusable NPU enabled could serve as a vector for attack or contribute to system instability. Anyway, 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 CPUs. These are minor but expected changes ahead of the full launch of Arrow Lake CPUs that's scheduled for October 24. We'll have a full review of some of the processors then, where we'll have independent testing of Intel's next-gen desktop CPUs, the new socket, and the new architecture. Arrow Lake and its Intel Core Ultra design should completely do away with the hardware issues that infamously plagued 13th and 14th Gen Intel 'Raptor Lake' CPUs, so at least we have that to look forward to. Of course, being a brand new platform and architecture, there plenty of potential for other problems to emerge over time. But getting back to the NPU drivers. Fixed Issues include Microsoft Copilot performance and accuracy improvements, along with aligning the "UD40 Driver version number." There are also fixes specifically for Lenovo View Video enhancer, a krisp model loading issue, and enabling and optimizing face/eye tracking and 2D/3D conversion functionalities. Lenovo View Video Enhancer, for those unfamiliar, is a component of the Lenovo View device driver (for Lenovo devices but especially AI PC-enabled ThinkPads) that provides better video call features, including quality adjustments, background concealing, and even little health warnings. Intel has already established a regular cadence for NPU driver updates, looking at the history of releases. There's basically a new driver revision every month, sometimes enabling new devices (like the Keem Bay video processing unit), more often just addressing a few bugs. But we'd expect NPU driver updates from Intel's competitors to be just as important in the coming years, particularly if the AI PC features and Copilot+ really take off.

Another driver to keep current? Intel's NPUs get monthly updates, latest adds Arrow Lake S support

Why it matters: Whether you actually need an NPU is a debate for another day. But if you splurged on an AI PC, the reality is that your device now features an extra piece of silicon you need to keep up to date, which means regular driver updates just like your CPU and GPU. Intel dropped a new NPU driver package on October 11, bringing it to version 32.0.100.3053. This monthly update is pretty minor, mainly adding support for the company's upcoming Arrow Lake processors set to launch on October 24. It also add support for the latest 2024.4 release of OpenVINO, a powerful deep learning toolkit. The driver notes also give us a glimpse of some of the AI-accelerated features Intel's NPUs enable. There are fixes for the performance and accuracy of Microsoft's Copilot AI assistant, which is baked into Windows 11 on AI PCs. It also resolves issues with Lenovo's "View Video Enhancer," which provides AI-powered webcam enhancements like background blur and video quality improvements. Other fixes cover eye/face tracking for AR applications and 2D to 3D video conversion. The update cadence here is notable - Intel has settled into a pattern of pushing out new NPU drivers on a monthly basis. While they're mostly minor and focus on bug fixes, there's also the occasional support for new hardware. That said, if you're still rocking an older Windows 10 machine with an Intel NPU, the chipmaker recommends just disabling it in your BIOS. While it's not explicitly clear what could go wrong, leaving an NPU enabled but essentially unusable is just asking for instability or potential security holes down the road. Monthly driver drops hopefully mean smoother operation as the AI software ecosystem continues evolving. But it's also one more item on the endless list of things to keep updated. Maybe it's not as critical as GPU drivers for gaming, but if you rely on Copilot heavily on a daily basis for whatever reason, you'll want to stay on top of those NPU updates for an optimal experience. Most PCs should grab the new NPU driver automatically through Windows Update, just like they do for other drivers. But if that doesn't happen for some reason, you can manually download the zip file from Intel's site and install it through the Device Manager.

Intel Releases New NPU Drivers Supporting Arrow Lake

Intel has released version 32.0.100.3053 of its Neural Processing Unit (NPU) drivers, introducing support for the upcoming Arrow Lake CPUs. This update is pertinent for users operating AI-enabled PCs that incorporate an onboard NPU alongside traditional CPU cores and graphics processors. Regular driver updates are crucial for maintaining system security and performance, as they provide essential security patches, address technical issues, and introduce new features. Ensuring that NPU drivers are up-to-date is particularly important for users leveraging AI functionalities on Windows, as these updates help mitigate potential vulnerabilities and enhance system reliability. For systems running Windows 10 equipped with an Intel NPU, Intel advises disabling the NPU through the BIOS settings rather than keeping it active. This recommendation aims to reduce potential security risks and prevent system instability that may arise from an unsupported or unused NPU. While the specific implications of leaving the NPU enabled on unsupported systems remain unclear, disabling it can minimize the attack surface and avoid possible conflicts with other system components. Conversely, users operating on Windows 11 can continue to utilize NPU features without needing to disable them, provided their hardware meets the required specifications. This distinction underscores the importance of aligning hardware configurations with the supported operating system to maintain optimal system performance and security. The latest NPU driver update, released on October 11, incorporates support for OpenVINO 2024.4 and Arrow Lake CPUs, aligning with Intel's planned release of Arrow Lake processors on October 24. This update includes improvements to Microsoft Copilot's performance and accuracy, adjustments to the UD40 driver version numbering, and specific fixes for Lenovo's View Video Enhancer. Additionally, the update addresses a model loading issue in the Krisp application and enhances functionalities related to face and eye tracking, as well as 2D/3D conversion processes. Lenovo's View Video Enhancer, part of the device drivers for AI-enabled ThinkPads, offers advanced video call features such as quality adjustments and background concealment. Intel has established a consistent schedule for NPU driver releases, typically issuing new versions on a monthly basis. These updates often introduce support for new devices, such as the Keem Bay video processing unit, and focus on resolving existing bugs and enhancing current functionalities. As AI PC features and integrations like Copilot+ gain traction, it is expected that NPU driver updates from Intel and its competitors will remain essential for maintaining system security and performance. Download