German automotive giant Volkswagen (VW) has revealed that its future models will feature an IDAvoice assistant that’s integrated with the ChatGPT artificial intelligence (AI) chatbot. This was shared by the brand at the 2024 CES and it will drastically change how voice control on vehicles is used.
The AI-powered version of IDAVoice will be released on VW products by the 2nd quarter of 2024
According to VW, this will find its way into the latest generation infotainment systems of its ID line of electric vehicle (EV) models, as well as the all-new Tiguan, all-new Passat, and the new Golf hatch.
The ChatGPT integration will become available for the European-spec versions of the aforementioned VW products by the second quarter of 2024. The best part is, that it will seamlessly work with IDAVoice from the get-go, meaning users won’t have to install another app. The brand didn’t discuss how cars already on the road will load up on the AI chatbot, but we can assume that it’ll come by way of a live update.
This integration of ChatGPT into the IDAvoice is done thanks to Cerence Chat Pro - a world leader in car-based voice assistants. Thanks to the power of the said AI chatbot, drivers can practically converse with the vehicle to tell it to toggle and manipulate on-board features such as air-conditioning and navigation. With this being ChatGPT, users can also get substantial answers to general knowledge questions, as well as real-time information about their vehicles.
This will make its way to the production (refreshed) version of the Golf GTI concept
Of note, the actual ChatGPT program isn’t installed on the car per se as a stand-alone version will require lots of processing power. Instead, Cerence Chat Pro will automatically send queries and receive answers from the AI server.
Specific data are also inaccessible to that AI chatbot and will be wiped from its cache for extra data protection. In essence, this system will use ChatGPT as its brain, while the IDAvoice assistance will be its voice.
As per Volkswagen, integrating ChatGPT into its products will give its clients added value, while showcasing the brand’s forward-thinking stance in terms of innovation. Furthermore, this move from VW also highlights strong relationships with advanced tech entities like Cerence Inc.
The 2024 VW ID.3
“With Cerence Chat Pro, VW is empowered with an automotive-grade ChatGPT integration that offers unmatched flexibility, customization, and ease of deployment, while prioritizing security and usability for drivers. As we look to the future, together Volkswagen and Cerence will explore collaboration to design a new, large language model (LLM)-based user experience as the basis of Volkswagen’s next-generation in-car assistant,” said Cerence CEO Stefan Ortmanns.
So, will this new AI feature come to the Philippines as well? We would not count on it happening soon since none of the models mentioned earlier are sold locally.
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