April 2025 – The Shenzhen 8K Ultra HD Video Industry Collaboration Alliance, comprising over 50 prominent Chinese companies including China Mobile, Sharp, Unilumin, Leyard, Huawei, Hisense, TCL, Skyworth, Hikvision, and HiSilicon, officially announced the release of GPMI (General Purpose Multimedia Interface). This groundbreaking interface integrates data transmission and power supply into a single cable, supporting up to 192Gbps bandwidth and 480W power delivery, resolving the traditional issue of requiring separate power and data cables for display devices. While the industry currently lacks an urgent demand for new wired standards, experts widely believe that GPMI will undoubtedly create a significant impact, potentially leading a new standard in data transmission, accelerating the adoption of 8K Ultra HD content, and providing innovative solutions for large-scale LED video walls and high-data-rate imaging industries.
GPMI, short for General Purpose Multimedia Interface, was developed under the leadership of the Shenzhen 8K Ultra HD Video Industry Collaboration Alliance in collaboration with Skyworth, Hisense, the China Electronics Standardization Institute, Huawei, TCL CSOT, Shanghai HiSilicon, the National Ultra HD Video Innovation Center, the Ultra HD Collaboration Center, the UWA Alliance, and over 50 other organizations.
2019: The Shenzhen International 8K Ultra HD Video Industry Collaboration Alliance established the Ultra HD Interface Working Group, officially initiating the GPMI R&D project.
2021: The core group standards for GPMI were released at the 2nd 8K Summit.
2023: FPGA prototypes were unveiled at the 3rd 8K Summit.
2024: Industry standards were officially released at the 4th 8K Summit. In November of the same year, GPMI obtained the SVID (0XFF10) authorization from the USB Implementers Forum (USB-IF), achieving deep integration with the USB Type-C ecosystem.
April 2025: GPMI officially launched.
Integrates audio/video, data, control signals, and power delivery through a single cable.
Supports up to 128-node mesh networking, enabling low-latency, high-quality multi-device connectivity (e.g., home entertainment systems, outdoor LED walls) via a single cable, reducing installation costs.
| Interface | Data Rate | Power Delivery |
| GPMI Type-C | 96Gbps | 240W |
| GPMI Type-B | 192Gbps | 480W |
| HDMI 2.1 TMDS | 18Gbps | None |
| HDMI 2.1 FRL | 48Gbps | None |
| DisplayPort 2.1 | 80Gbps | 240W |
From the comparison of data rates and power delivery capabilities, GPMI demonstrates clear advantages over existing standards, with DisplayPort 2.1 being its only competitor in terms of combined performance.
Now let’s take a look at how oversea experts think about the newly launched GPMI.
Simon Forrest, chief technology consultant at FutureSource Consulting:
Believes that the Type-B GPMI fully meets the power demands of high-performance laptops and desktop PCs, making it likely to be adopted early by PC and display manufacturers. The Type-C variant, with its familiar form factor, could become popular in consumer electronics. He also highlights GPMI’s potential in emerging industries requiring real-time massive data processing, such as XR, automotive, and transportation.
Bob Raikes, editor of the 8K Association:
Notes that HDMI 2.1b with DSC technology has already demonstrated 8K 120Hz gaming capabilities at NAB shows, and the upcoming HDMI 2.2 will further enhance performance. Given HDMI’s entrenched market presence, he predicts GPMI will first dominate in China, while worldwide acceptance will require time.
Paul Gray, founder of Graypixel Limited:
Skeptical about mainstream consumer adoption due to limited perceived benefits for average users but acknowledges GPMI’s potential in niche applications like video walls, digital signage, architectural displays, and LED arrays. He emphasizes that centralized power delivery via Type-C GPMI cables could be critical for high-power-demand scenarios.
Let’s forget the negative opinions over the future of GPMI, and explore that beyond its technical specifications mentioned above, what unique advantages that GPMI will bring to us.
Unlike predecessors, GPMI eliminates expensive royalty payments.
Simultaneously transmits video, audio, data, and control signals, simplifying system design.
Compatible with diverse devices (LED displays, embedded systems, smart terminals) and scalable for cross-platform integration.
Kinglight – professional supplier of LEDs (for screen manufacturing)
Meets stringent requirements for 8K/120Hz content and real-time applications.
Standardized interfaces enable seamless integration with FPGA, ARM, and GPU platforms, accelerating development.
Functions as a unified interface for consumer electronics, industrial controls, automotive systems, and professional AV equipment.
Reduces R&D redundancy, installation complexity, and maintenance costs.
Notably, GPMI excels in large-scale LED display applications, supporting proprietary chips, multi-device synchronization, and bidirectional data flow between screens.
As a next-generation connectivity standard jointly developed by China’s tech giants, GPMI aims to unify and surpass existing technologies in bandwidth and power delivery. Domestically, its ecosystem of manufacturers, academic institutions, and research organizations positions it for rapid adoption. Internationally, however, geopolitical factors and market inertia pose challenges. For industries requiring ultra-high bandwidth and power—such as professional AV, industrial automation, and large-format displays—GPMI offers a transformative, future-proof solution.
