Intel releases NPU driver 1.24 for Meteor, Arrow, and Lunar Lake chips
Intel has launched version 1.24 of its NPU Linux driver user-space components, offering validation for its Core Ultra Meteor Lake, Arrow Lake, and Lunar Lake processors. The update includes new firmware and enhancements to key APIs for better Linux performance. It is now available on GitHub for developers and users.
Intel engineers have published version 1.24 of the NPU Linux driver user-space components, which work alongside the upstream IVPU kernel driver. This release introduces new firmware binaries along with routine updates, specifically validated for the company's Core Ultra Meteor Lake, Arrow Lake, and Lunar Lake system-on-chips.
Key upgrades in this version include an update to the Level Zero API, now at v1.24.2, and advancements in the vpux_elf submodule to a new commit. The compiler has been updated based on the npu_ud_2025_38_rc1 release candidate. The release notes highlight “new driver and umd-test changes,” though details on these modifications remain unspecified.
The primary purpose of this driver package is to supply the essential user-space elements that enable Neural Processing Unit (NPU) acceleration on compatible hardware under the Linux kernel. This supports enhanced AI and machine learning workloads on Intel's latest processors.
For those interested in implementing the update, the 1.24 release is accessible on GitHub, allowing immediate integration into Linux environments. This development continues Intel's efforts to optimize its hardware for open-source operating systems, potentially benefiting developers working on edge computing and AI applications.