Linux NPU Driver v1.24.0 released
Intel has rolled out the latest version (1.24.0) of its NPU Linux driver user-space components, which serve as a bridge between the upstream IVPU kernel driver and these user-space components. The Intel Neural Processing Unit (NPU) is an integrated AI inference accelerator that comes with select Intel client CPUs starting from the Core Ultra generation (formerly known as Meteor Lake). This innovative technology allows for efficient execution of artificial neural network tasks while conserving energy.
This release brings several key updates to its user-space components, including a new version of Level Zero, which has been upgraded to v1.24.2. Additionally, OpenVINO, a critical tool for optimizing AI workloads, now boasts the 2025.3 update. The NPU Compiler has also been enhanced with the npu_ud_2025_38_rc1 build, utilizing OpenVINO_rev.7ced823. Furthermore, Intel has made available two distinct versions of its GPU driver: one tailored for Ubuntu 22.04 (version 25.13.33276.16) and another for Ubuntu 24.04 (version 25.35.35096.9). These updates are designed to improve the overall performance and efficiency of AI-powered workloads on Intel-based systems.
The combination of these components with the upstream IVPU kernel driver allows the software and hardware to work well together, helping developers make the most of the AI features in their Intel CPUs. As a result, users can expect improved energy efficiency and enhanced execution speeds for complex artificial neural network tasks.
Developers and system administrators can directly access the newly released version of the latest Intel NPU Linux user-space driver components through the official repository on GitHub to leverage its cutting-edge features:
Linux NPU Driver v1.24.0
Validated on following configuration Platform System Kernel Firmware Meteor Lake
