Volkswagen Brings ChatGPT to its Vehicles Through Collaboration With Cerence

Volkswagen is introducing ChatGPT to its models featuring the new-generation infotainment system. The AI-based research tool is available in all new vehicles in the all-electric ID. family, as well as in the new Golf, new Tiguan and new Passat.

Its use in Volkswagen vehicles has been made possible thanks to a collaboration with Cerence Inc., a leader in automotive AI solutions, and its Cerence Chat Pro, which uses a variety of sources – including ChatGPT – to enable the IDA voice assistant to provide accurate and relevant responses to queries.

It can be accessed using IDA and offers a range of new options that go far beyond the voice control previously available.

For example, customers can now have search results read out to them, and can interact with the car using natural language.

AI can provide information on tourist attractions, report on past football tournaments or help solve maths problems.

All of this works intuitively: the driver simply talks to the assistant in natural language, and there is no need for them to take their eyes off the road.

The technology available in five languages, English (US), English (UK), Spanish, Czech and German. 

Kai Grünitz, Member of the Brand Board of Management responsible for Development, says: “Volkswagen has a long tradition of democratising technologies. As a volume manufacturer, we make these technologies accessible to large numbers of people. By seamlessly integrating ChatGPT into the backend of our voice assistant, we are now offering drivers the opportunity to use this artificial intelligence on a daily basis, thus underlining how innovative our products are.”

In January 2024, Volkswagen presented the first vehicles with ChatGPT integrated into the IDA voice assistant at the CES 2024.