Tech giants showcased their innovative advancements in AI-powered cars and mobility solutions at CES 2024. Companies like Qualcomm, Google, Intel, Samsung, LG, and Nvidia have laid the foundation for connected, smart, and even driverless vehicles through AI technology. Car manufacturers including Mercedes Benz, Hyundai, VW, BMW, and Kia have embraced these developments to enhance their product lines and provide a tech-infused car ownership experience.
One of the key players, Qualcomm, presented updates for its Digital Chassis platform, focusing on advanced driver assistance systems and automated driving technologies. With its Snapdragon Cockpit, Qualcomm offers carmakers the opportunity to create customizable in-car infotainment experiences, combining multimedia, mapping, safety features, and generative AI.
Qualcomm and Bosch collaboration resulted in the development of the automotive industry’s first central vehicle computer that can run infotainment and advanced driver assistance system functionalities on a single SoC (System-on-Chip). This milestone enables automakers to create next-generation software-defined vehicles with high-performance capabilities.
Nvidia’s Drive platform is making its way into more vehicles, with the Drive Orin chip being used by Mercedes Benz, Volvo’s Polestar, Xiaomi, and Great Wall Motors. Drive Orin possesses impressive computing power, capable of 254 trillion operations per second to support various autonomous driving functions.
Intel, known for its processors and computing hardware, is also venturing into the automotive industry. The company recently announced its first-generation AI SoC for automobiles and is working on acquiring Silicon Mobility, a company specializing in EV energy management chips. Intel aims to apply AI solutions across the vehicle platform to facilitate the transition to electric vehicles.
Leading carmakers like Mercedes Benz and BMW are leveraging AI technology to enhance their operating systems and infotainment experiences. Mercedes Benz has developed the MB.0S1 operating system with an AI chatbot, offering selectable personality types and collaborating with Audible and Amazon Music to provide an immersive sound experience. BMW, on the other hand, utilizes Amazon’s Alexa for its Intelligent Personal Assistant and integrates Google Android Automotive into its iDrive 9 system, allowing features like video game playing on the car’s infotainment display.
Other notable developments include Volkswagen’s partnership with OpenAI’s ChatGPT for its in-car voice assistant, Samsung’s collaboration with Hyundai and Kia to expand the capabilities of the SmartThings IoT platform, and Google’s updates to Android Auto and cars with Google built-in.
CES 2024 showcased the convergence of technology and the automotive industry, with tech giants driving innovation in AI-powered cars and advanced mobility solutions. As these advancements continue to unfold, it remains to be seen whether more technology in cars will truly simplify the driving experience. However, with the integration of AI, connectivity, and advanced driver assistance systems, the future of transportation is undoubtedly evolving.
