In this Voices of Video episode, Akamai’s Chris Milsted and Cires21’s Dennis Mungai share the results of a real-world benchmarking study that compared GPU and VPU performance using production-grade workflows. The test results? A NETINT VPU delivered 19 simultaneous 1080p60 streams at just 12 watts, outperforming the GPU on efficiency while matching quality on AV1 and HEVC encoding. But this conversation goes beyond just the numbers. Chris and Dennis explore how energy restrictions in Europe, rising demand for AV1, and the need for scalable, container-friendly infrastructure are driving a new wave of interest in ASIC-based encoding. From NVMe-based cloud deployment to predictable resource scaling, the episode offers a data-backed look at how VPUs are reshaping modern video workflows, and why this shift might just be inevitable.