What is the "Product Type" in Windows Hardware Compatibility Program (WHQL certification) for AI accelerator

In the Windows Hardware Compatibility Program, “Product Type” is a taxonomy label used for reporting and categorizing the submission; it does not control which tests are run. Tests are selected based on detected features, not on the Product Type itself.

For an AI accelerator card connected via M.2 that is used for model inference and is not a display adapter, the correct Product Type depends on which HLK features the device exposes. The HLK detects features such as Device.Audio.Base, Device.BusController.Bluetooth.Base, etc., and each Product Type is defined as a collection of such features.

Key points from the program model:

1. Feature-based testing
   • HLK testing is driven by feature detection. The kit uses gatherers to discover features on the device (for example, Device.Graphics.WDDM12, System.Client.BluetoothController.Base).
   • Requirements and tests are tied to these features, not to the Product Type label.
2. Product Type definition
   • A ProductType object represents a type of product (for example, a printer or scanner) and is a collection of Feature objects.
   • ProductType is “mostly used for reporting and categorizing a submission, and it has no bearing on test selection or other processing.”
   • A product instance can contain multiple targets (for example, printer + scanner) if the ProductType requires both features.
3. Choosing Product Type for an AI accelerator
   • The HLK Product Type Matrix lists predefined Product Types (for example, Audio Device, Bluetooth Controller, All In One system) and the required features for each.
   • AI accelerators are not listed as a dedicated Product Type in the provided matrix excerpt.
   • For a device that is not a display adapter and whose primary function is AI inference, the appropriate Product Type is whichever category in the full HLK Product Type Matrix matches the features your device exposes. If no standard category matches, the device typically falls under a more generic device category (for example, “Other Devices” in the broader WHCP taxonomy), but the exact label must be selected from the current matrix in HLK/Partner Center.
4. Practical guidance
   • Connect the AI accelerator to the HLK environment and allow HLK to detect its features.
   • Compare the detected features with the HLK Product Type Matrix to find a Product Type whose required features match your device.
   • If no Product Type in the matrix matches the detected features, select the most appropriate generic category offered by the current WHCP tooling; testing and certification will still be driven by the features and associated requirements.

Because Product Type does not affect test selection, the critical step is ensuring that the device’s features are correctly detected and all associated requirements/tests are passed. The Product Type then serves to categorize the certified AI accelerator appropriately in the Windows Hardware Compatibility list.

References:

• HLK Product Type Matrix
• ProductType
• HLK Testing Concepts
• Windows Hardware Compatibility Program Specifications and Policies