MediaTek marks the rise of agentic AI and peripheral intelligence in the chipset ecosystem

At the recent MediaTek Tech Day in New Delhi, the conversation shifted from basic ‘smartphone specs’ to a more transformative shift in the silicon landscape with the institutionalisation of Agentic AI Semantic Engineering at the hardware level.

With Dimensity 9500 and Dimensity 8500, Mediatek is signalling a pivot towards ‘All-Big Core’ architectures designed to handle the rigorous compute demands of generative reasoning and multi-modal AI models.

Agentic AI at the edge

The standout feature of the new Dimensity lineup is the integration of agentic AI capabilities. Unlike standard AI, which follows reactive commands, agentic AI is designed for proactive reasoning. The Dimensity 9500 features a specialised NPU optimised for multi-modal models. This allows for edge-based content creation and reasoning that reduces the latency and data sovereignty risks associated with cloud-based AI.

In the Dimensity 8500, MediaTek has introduced an 8th-generation NPU that supports global mainstream LLMs and image generation models directly on-chip.

Semantic engineering

One of the most intriguing advancements highlighted was the Dimensity AI Semantic Engine. In traditional computing, hardware processes data as a series of disparate tasks. MediaTek’s semantic approach allows the chipset to understand the context of what is being processed.

The semantic engine intelligently optimises content frames based on intent. This move towards semantic-aware hardware suggests a future where ICT infrastructure is optimised for ‘human meaning’ rather than just ‘raw throughput’.

Silicon for the “AI-first” enterprises

The silicon wars are no longer about clock speeds now. They are about AI efficiency and the ability of a device to act as a secure, intelligent agent for the user.

And, as OEMs like OPPO and POCO prepare to integrate these chips into the Indian market, the focus will be on how these architectures handle the heavy lifting of AI applications without compromising thermal efficiency or battery life.