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Volkswagen presented its first vehicles with a voice assistant that uses the artificial intelligence (AI) technology behind ChatGPT on Monday at the CES electronics trade fair in Las Vegas.
The new feature allows drivers to have researched content read to them while driving Volkswagen models equipped with the “IDA” voice assistant, which the automaker says can answer general knowledge questions while controlling the vehicle's infotainment, navigation and and air conditioning.
The company says that in the future, AI will provide additional information in response to questions beyond these functions as its capabilities continue to expand. This could include receiving vehicle-specific information as well as interacting in intuitive language, clarifying questions and enriching conversations.
Volkswagen said the ChatGPT integration, done in collaboration with Cerence Inc., will make it the first volume manufacturer to make the AI chatbot a standard feature in its small cars.
WHAT IS ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE (AI)?
Volkswagen announced on Monday the integration of ChatGPT into its voice assistant “IDA” through a partnership with Cerence. (Volkswagen/Fox News)
The feature does not require Volkswagen drivers to create a new account or install an app or ChatGPT. The IDA voice assistant is activated when a user says “Hello IDA” or presses a button on the steering wheel.
Volkswagen noted in a press release that ChatGPT does not receive access to vehicle data and questions and answers are immediately deleted for data protection reasons. To facilitate this, Cerence Chat Pro is used as the platform leverages a variety of sources, including OpenAI's ChatGPT, to provide accurate and relevant answers to user queries.
| ticker | Security | Last | Change | Change % |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| VWAGY | VOLKSWAGEN AG | 13.3325 | +0.29 | +2.24% |
WHAT IS CHATGPT?
OpenAI's ChatGPT is integrated into Volkswagen's voice assistant “IDA” for drivers. (Jaap Arriens/NurPhoto/Getty Images)
“Thanks to the seamless integration of ChatGPT and the close collaboration with our partner Cerence, we offer our drivers added value and direct access to the AI-based research tool,” said Kai Grünitz, board member for technical development at Volkswagen, in a statement. “This also underlines the innovative strength of our new products.”
“With Cerence Chat Pro, VW has an automotive-grade ChatGPT integration that offers unmatched flexibility, customization and ease of deployment while prioritizing safety and ease of use for drivers,” Cerence CEO Stefan Ortmanns added in a statement. “As we look to the future, Volkswagen and Cerence will jointly explore collaboration to develop a new large language model (LLM)-based user experience as the foundation for Volkswagen's next-generation in-car assistant.”
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Mercedes-Benz ran a test program last June that allowed about 900,000 vehicles to download ChatGPT using the automaker's “MBUX” system, with the prospect of eventually allowing users to complete tasks like movie or restaurant reservations behind the wheel.
Portal contributed to this report.