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Volkswagen announced plans to incorporate AI-powered chatbot ChatGPT into its vehicles equipped with the IDA voice assistant. This announcement, made at CES 2024 in Las Vegas, signals Volkswagen’s commitment to enhancing the driving experience through AI technology.
Scheduled for rollout in the second quarter of this year, starting in Europe, this integration will initially be available in Volkswagen’s line of electric vehicles, including the ID.7, ID.4, ID.5, ID.3, as well as their new Tiguan, Passat, and Golf models. Drivers in the United States will have to wait, as Volkswagen has stated that the feature is still under consideration and undergoing internal approvals for this market.
ChatGPT, developed by OpenAI, has gained significant attention in recent times, with Volkswagen emerging as the largest automaker to embrace this technology. It’s important to note that Mercedes-Benz integrated the conversational AI bot into its MBUX infotainment system back in June.
Initially designed for controlling infotainment, navigation, air conditioning, and answering general knowledge queries, ChatGPT aims to extend its capabilities. Volkswagen promises features such as “enriching conversations, clearing up questions, interacting in intuitive language, receiving vehicle-specific information, and much more – purely hands-free.” To enhance the experience, Volkswagen is also utilizing a more specialized large language model (LLM) from Cerence called CaLLM, capable of addressing around 10,000 vehicle-specific queries.
Once the feature is launched, drivers can interact with the IDA voice assistant using the familiar “Hello IDA” wake word or by pressing the steering wheel button. If the voice assistant encounters a request beyond its capabilities, it will forward the query to the AI chatbot. The response will then be delivered through the IDA voice assistant, clearly indicating the source of the information.
The heart of this AI-based chatbot lies in the synergy between software company Cerence’s Chat Pro product and OpenAI’s large language model. To ensure the responsible use of this technology, Cerence has imposed certain limitations on the chatbot’s responses. Questions related to profanity, sex, or sensitive topics, including the Israel-Hamas War, will not be entertained. During a CES 2024 test, the chatbot even refrained from answering questions that could potentially promote or criticize other automakers.
Cerence CEO Stefan Ortmanns hinted at the possibility of further collaboration between the two companies to design a new, LLM-based user experience for Volkswagen’s next-generation in-car assistant.
It’s important to clarify that this integration is distinct from the efforts of Cariad, the software arm of Volkswagen Group. Cariad, established in 2020 to address VW’s software challenges, has been working on its own projects.
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