Volkswagen to Integrate OpenAI’s ChatGPT Into Cars for Enhanced In-Car Conversations
Volkswagen has announced plans to integrate OpenAI’s ChatGPT into its vehicles, starting in the second quarter of 2024. The move will allow for enhanced in-car conversations and more naturalistic communication between the car and its driver.
The ChatGPT chatbot will be available across Volkswagen’s lineup, including popular models like Tiguan, Passat, and Golf, as well as the automaker’s ID family of electric vehicles. Initially, the feature will be launched in Europe, with plans to expand to the US market later on.
Volkswagen is utilizing ChatGPT to augment its IDA in-car voice assistant, enabling users to have more interactive and intuitive conversations with their vehicles. With the new voice assistant, drivers can control basic functions such as heating and air conditioning, as well as ask general knowledge questions. However, users are advised to exercise discretion, as ChatGPT has been known to occasionally provide inaccurate information.
Volkswagen believes that future functions of ChatGPT will further prove its value. The company stated that the chatbot will enrich conversations, provide vehicle-specific information, and perform various tasks purely hands-free.
One of the notable aspects of Volkswagen’s integration of ChatGPT is that users will not be required to create new accounts or install additional apps. The chatbot can be activated by saying Hello IDA or by pressing a button on the steering wheel. Additionally, Volkswagen ensures the highest level of data protection by immediately deleting questions and answers, preventing OpenAI from accessing driving statistics.
Unlike other automakers that rely on voice assistants from third-party developers, Volkswagen took the lead by fully embracing ChatGPT and integrating it directly into its cars. While there have been concerns about false information being provided by large language model chatbots, Volkswagen’s partnership with Cerence, a third-party software company specializing in automotive-grade integrations, aims to provide relevant responses to any query imaginable.
This move comes as Volkswagen seeks to recover from a challenging year in 2023, which included disappointing sales growth, software malfunctions, and layoffs. By embracing AI technologies like ChatGPT, Volkswagen aims to add a touch of tech inventiveness and enhance its appeal to consumers.
Overall, Volkswagen’s integration of OpenAI’s ChatGPT into its vehicles signifies the automaker’s dedication to improving the in-car experience and further advancing voice assistant capabilities. With its potential to enable more natural and intuitive conversations, ChatGPT has the opportunity to revolutionize the way drivers interact with their vehicles.
