Toyota, Google Cloud team up for next-gen infotainment system 

Toyota announced that it has expanded its partnership with Google Cloud. With this, the next-generation infotainment systems on Toyota and Lexus products will have improved capabilities particularly in recognizing voice commands.  

The Toyota Voice Assistant leverage the processing power of Google's Cloud-based AI

This is because Google Cloud specializes in AI-based speech services. With Google Cloud’s know-how, the latest infotainment systems for cars within the Toyota umbrella will come with a more accurate and consistent voice recognition system. But in order for this to work, Google says machine learning capabilities via the cloud are necessary for better voice interactions since “natural language processing is extremely complex and can require specialized computers.” 

In fact, some Toyota models for some markets already come with these next-gen, cloud AI-powered infotainment systems. These include the US-spec Corolla, Tundra, and Sequoia. This next-gen infotainment system is also present on the Lexus NX, RX, and the RZ EV.  

Those aforementioned next-gen infotainment systems however, still require the internet for the cloud AI speech service to work. But with the expanded partnership between Toyota and Google Cloud, further improvements via the addition of Speech on-Device will also be possible in the near future. This system allows for use of the same powerful cloud AI-based voice recognition system without the need for an internet connection.  

Google Cloud’s AI-based speech services is available on the Lexus RZ EV

For now, Google’s Speech On-Device system is not yet available on Toyota and Lexus products. But currently, Google shared that it is now working with Toyota to gain further insights on “in-vehicle device requirements and capabilities.”  

This means that it is only a matter of time before the vehicle-embedded Speech On-Device will become a standard component of the Toyota Voice Assistant. For the moment though no time frame has been given for when this will happen.  

Google did say that Speech On-Device is already available for select Google Cloud customers. Users of the Google Pixel smartphones, for example, can already access this via the Google Apps Store. 

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