Volkswagen has teamed up with Cerence Chat Pro to integrate OpenAI’s ChatGPT into its ID.7 electric sedan and Golf GTI. Unveiled at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas, the partnership allows users to interact with the AI chatbot, demonstrating features such as adjusting the passenger seat temperature or providing restaurant recommendations. Volkswagen emphasizes that the assistant respects privacy, with no access to vehicle data, and the questions and answers are deleted.
The integration introduces a protection layer allowing the automaker to decide which queries are handled by a third-party Language Learning Model (LLM) and which remain within the automaker’s system. This offers flexibility for adjusting the balance between third-party content and the automaker’s context. The technology, set to be a standard feature in Volkswagen vehicles from Q2 2024, is still under consideration for use in the United States.
Cerence, the provider of automotive assistants, is exploring the implementation of ChatGPT into motorbikes. Volkswagen’s move follows Mercedes-Benz, which began experimenting with ChatGPT in its vehicles in June. Kai Grunitz, a member of Volkswagen’s board of management, expressed confidence in the technology, highlighting its expanded capabilities without limitations in handling various queries, particularly in an automotive context.
