Linux NPU Driver v1.26.0 released
Intel has released an update for its Linux driver for Neural Processing Units (NPUs), bumping the version to 1.26.0. This matters mainly if you're using Intel Core Ultra CPUs, also called Meteor Lake and Lunar Lake previously, which have built-in NPUs designed specifically for running artificial intelligence tasks efficiently.
If you want to use that NPU feature, make sure your hardware supports it and you've got the right software. The key is ensuring your system has a compatible NPU integrated chip (the actual hardware component). Interesting note: while these chips are called Neural Processing Units (NPUs), they're managed by a Linux kernel driver that still uses the older name for itself, Versatile Processing Unit, or VPU.
Intel confirms this new driver works fine on different setups involving its client CPUs and Ubuntu operating systems. The driver has been tested with both Ubuntu 22.04 LTS and 24.04 LTS, running alongside specific kernel versions (like 6.8.0-87-generic for Meteor Lake Ubuntu combos or the newer 6.14.0-35-generic ones) and particular firmware builds.
The common parts in all these working checks included Level Zero software using v1.24.2, OpenVINO tools at version 2025.3, plus an NPU Compiler built from code tagged rev.80e587b (specifically named npu_ud_2025_44_rc1). Furthermore, it is verified with various GPU drivers, like version 25.13.33276.16 with Ubuntu 22.04 and the later build 25.35.35096.9 for Ubuntu users.
Just one more thing: each setup needs its exact matching firmware to perform properly. Make sure you're using what was tested with your specific combination.
Release Linux NPU Driver v1.26.0
Ubuntu22.04 support will be dropped starting with the upcoming release
