Google is apparently planning on ditching Qualcomm as its chip provider for its Nexus 8 and go with Intel instead, according to a new report.

This is not the first time that a Google Nexus 8 tablet is rumored, but this time the latest report makes some intriguing claims. The purported 8-inch Nexus tablet will reportedly come from ASUS and will pack an Intel Bay Trail 64-bit chipset.

The news comes from a DigiTimes report citing "upstream supply chain" sources, who allegedly claimed that the Intel-powered Nexus 8 would make its debut by the middle of this year. It's worth pointing out, however, that DigiTimes is often hit-and-miss, which means that there's a good chance this is not accurate.

The report further claimed that the new Intel Bay Trail-T chipset will be a 64-bit quad-core CPU, but gives no other details regarding the tablet's purported specifications. According to DigiTimes' sources, more details should become available after the Mobile World Congress (MWC) 2014, which takes place next month in Barcelona.

DigiTimes already has a spotty track record when it comes to such sensational leaks, and the idea that Google would ditch Qualcomm in favor of Intel sounds quite farfetched. Most Android devices pack Qualcomm chipsets, and some version of Snapdragon can be found on all current Nexus devices except for the Nexus 10, which has a dual-core Cortex-A15. In fact, every single device in the Google Play Edition lineup features a Qualcomm CPU. An Intel Bay Trail processor may not be completely out of the question, but it definitely seems like an odd choice in this context.

Consequently, this ASUS-made Google Nexus 8 tablet powered by an Intel Bay Trail processor sounds intriguing, but don't bet on the accuracy of this report. Various rumors have surrounded this purported Nexus 8, as well as a new-generation Nexus 10, but nothing is confirmed at this point. As always with such leaks, rumors, and speculation, it is highly advisable to take everything with a hefty grain of salt, especially considering the source of the information in this case. If the Nexus 8 is indeed set to launch by mid-2014, we should hear more about it soon enough.