Volkswagen has announced a groundbreaking partnership with Cerence and OpenAI to bring AI voice control to its cars. The German automaker revealed this collaboration at CES 2024, unveiling plans to integrate Cerence’s voice-controlled interfaces for cars with the powerful artificial intelligence technology of OpenAI’s ChatGPT.
Cerence’s Chat Pro is a unique solution that combines its own large language model (LLM), specifically trained to handle thousands of automotive-related questions and tasks, with OpenAI’s ChatGPT. This collaboration aims to make cars much more user-friendly and entertaining by allowing drivers to simply voice commands such as Turn on the cabin lights or ask questions like Where is the car battery? Instead of having to consult the owner’s manual.
Even more impressively, if Cerence’s in-house LLM cannot tackle a specific question, it seamlessly hands it off to OpenAI’s ChatGPT. This ensures that even complex inquiries, such as historical or agricultural questions, can be smoothly answered. The result is an advanced AI voice control system that offers convenience, efficiency, and a touch of fun for Volkswagen car owners.
The implementation of this AI technology will initially be available in select Volkswagen vehicles throughout North America and Europe. The models set to receive this exciting upgrade include Volkswagen’s Golf range, as well as its ID series electric vehicles, including the ID.71, ID.4, ID.5, and ID.3. Additionally, the new Tiguan3 and Passat3 models will also benefit from this innovative integration. The exact timeline and pricing details have not been disclosed, but Volkswagen will release the technology via an over-the-air software update to both new and existing Volkswagen cars on the road.
This partnership highlights the growing enthusiasm within the automotive industry to capitalize on the potential of AI technology. While general-purpose AI chatbots like ChatGPT can sometimes deliver incorrect information, they also offer entertainment and assist with various tasks, such as brainstorming. For Volkswagen, this collaboration is a crucial step towards integrating cutting-edge technology into its vehicles.
Thomas Ulbrich, an executive leading VW’s New Mobility program, emphasized the significance of software in shaping the future of Volkswagen: With software at the core of the Volkswagen of the future, it’s critical that we quickly deploy meaningful innovation powered by advancements in AI.
Through its partnership with Microsoft, Cerence gains access to OpenAI’s ChatGPT technology. This partnership facilitates the seamless integration of advanced AI capabilities into Cerence’s voice-controlled interfaces for vehicles, further enhancing the user experience for Volkswagen car owners.
The collaboration between Volkswagen, Cerence, and OpenAI signifies a major leap towards revolutionizing the driving experience by enabling AI voice control in cars. By leveraging the collective expertise of these renowned companies, Volkswagen aims to provide its customers with advanced technology that simplifies and enriches their daily journeys. This exciting partnership represents a significant step forward in the fusion between automotive engineering and artificial intelligence.
