Parallels Desktop 27 brings OpenGL 4.3 and AI acceleration to Apple Silicon

Parallels has announced the release of Parallels Desktop 27, a virtualization solution designed specifically for Apple Silicon Macs. The update introduces a new Metal-based graphics driver that provides hardware-accelerated OpenGL 4.3 support for Windows virtual machines.

This enhancement aims to improve compatibility and performance for professional applications in technical industries, such as engineering, architecture, and GIS. Specifically, the update supports software including ArcGIS Pro, ZWCAD, and Blender 4.3. Users with M3 chips or newer may see up to 160% faster OpenGL graphics performance, while ArcGIS Pro tasks may see up to 35% faster 3D rendering.

Additionally, the new version integrates AI acceleration via SME instructions on M4 and newer Apple chips. This feature allows for faster machine learning matrix operations and neural network inference, assisting developers in running AI tools like Ollama and llama.cpp locally within virtual machines.