The next installment of “Behind the Silicon: Snapdragon X” is finally here, Episode 2: Born in San Diego. In this episode, host Lucy Hedges (@lucyhedges on X) and Snapdragon Insiders Kevin Breeze (@KevinBreezeTV on X and @KevinBreeze on YouTube), and Paul Smith (@Geeekystuff on X and @GeekyStuff on YouTube) visit Qualcomm’s San Diego headquarters to get an in-depth look into the development and testing of the groundbreaking Snapdragon® X Elite Compute Platform.

Ahead of the second episode’s release, we got a chance to catch up with Snapdragon Insiders Kevin and Paul, and hear what it was like to chat with the team behind Snapdragon X Elite, and go inside the lab to see how the silicon is made. 

For both of you this was your first time on the Qualcomm campus, what was that experience like?

Paul: The first thing that stood out was how large the complex was! It's huge! Large buildings with hundreds of offices, full of clever people creating new and exciting technology.

Kevin: Visiting Qualcomm's campus was unlike anything I've experienced before. It's amazing to see so much talent in one place. What especially stood out is how such a forward-thinking company still remembers and celebrates its past, with its wall of patents and the Qualcomm Museum.

Going into the testing lab must have been a real trip, but what do you think was the most surprising, or most interesting aspect of the Snapdragon X Elite chip testing process?

Paul: I appreciated all the testing that goes on in the lab, but I especially loved the dummy heads with wigs  that were used to test the Always Sensing technology. It was super cool.

Kevin: I found it interesting how many prototypes were being tested simultaneously to ensure quality. Folks on the Snapdragon team are not only experts at what they do, but they're also passionate. 

Now that you've gone behind the scenes, what do you think Snapdragon X Elite, and on-device AI in general, means for the future of the PC?

Paul: ​​It's the start of a new era in computing. It will massively change the way a lot of users use their computers. As CMO Don McGuire put in a recent tweet, AI is like having a second brain. It will make tasks quicker and more efficient and it's important for consumers not to be afraid of AI, just embrace it.

Kevin: On-device AI is a huge component of Snapdragon X Elite. PC users will be so much more productive on their device, and get more value out of their PC than ever before.

When it comes to the AI PC, what are you most excited about? What sorts of apps and functionality are you looking forward to?

Paul: Personally, it will be the creative side. Helping me come up with video titles and ideas. Having the ability to generate a thumbnail in a matter of seconds, or even expanding a current photo. It's really exciting.

Kevin: I'm looking forward to AI allowing me to do more in less time. I'm always looking for ways to do more work more efficiently, and the growth of AI helps make that possible. I'm especially curious how I can use AI in the future to help me edit videos and photos.

Check out the video on YouTube to see Paul and Kevin’s full experience at Qualcomm HQ, and in the lab with Snapdragon X Elite. 

And be sure to stay tuned for episode three, where Snapdragon Insiders will be digging even deeper into this exciting new compute platform.

What was your favorite moment in episode 2 of “Behind the Silicon: Snapdragon X”? Let us know on Discord.