Volkswagen brings ChatGPT into compact cars

Cerence

08/01/2024 16:00

BERLIN/LAS VEGAS, Jan 8 (Reuters) - Volkswagen
 VOWG_p.DE  presented its first vehicles featuring a voice
assistant that integrates ChatGPT technology at the CES
electronics trade fair in Las Vegas on Monday, enabling drivers
to have researched content read to them during their drive.
    The chatbot, integrated via a partnership with Cerence Inc.,
 can control entertainment in the car and answer general
knowledge questions. In future, it could converse with drivers
and interact in other ways, the carmaker said in a statement.
    Volkswagen said it was the first volume manufacturer to make
the technology a standard feature in its compact segment cars.
GM said in March last year it was working on a virtual personal
assistant using AI models behind ChatGPT.
    Mercedes-Benz ran a test programme last June enabling around
900,000 vehicles which had the automaker's "MBUX" system to
download ChatGPT, with the view of users eventually being able
to carry out tasks like making movie or restaurant reservations
from behind the wheel.

 (Reporting by Victoria Waldersee, Abhirup Roy; Editing by
Rachel More)
 ((Victoria.Waldersee@thomsonreuters.com;))