Volkswagen to Include ChatGPT in Its Cars

Volkswagen has announced it will install ChatGPT into its vehicles to enable better communication between car and driver.

The German car manufacturer plans to start installing the conversational chatbot into its vehicles in the second quarter of this year, with the option being available for all its flagship models, including the Tiguan, Passat, and Golf. It will also become available in the manufacturer’s range of electric vehicles.

The company will present the first vehicles it has fitted with the artificial intelligence-based chatbot at CES 2024, a renowned four-day electronics trade fair which began on January 9th.

Using ChatGPT (owned by OpenAI) to enhance its IDA in-car voice assistant, the upgraded system will offer several new capabilities, allowing drivers to control the infotainment, navigation, and air conditioning. Drivers will also be able to ask general knowledge questions.

Volkswagen’s ChatGPT feature will be available in Europe first, and the company is considering plans to expand to its US customer base.

Volkswagen’s ChatGPT Journey, and What it Means

A spokesperson for Volkswagen said, “Nothing changes for the person behind the wheel. There is no need to create a new account, install a new app or activate ChatGPT: The voice assistant is activated by saying ‘Hello IDA’ or pressing the button on the steering wheel.”

“IDA automatically prioritizes whether a vehicle function should be executed, a destination searched or the temperature adjusted,” the spokesperson said. “If the request cannot be answered by the Volkswagen system, it is forwarded anonymously to AI and the familiar Volkswagen voice responds.”

“ChatGPT does not gain access to any vehicle data; questions and answers are deleted immediately to ensure the highest possible level of data protection,” it was revealed. “This is facilitated by Cerence Chat Pro, which leverages a multitude of sources, including ChatGPT, to enable IDA to provide accurate and relevant responses to nearly every query imaginable. The feature also prioritizes security and seamless integration with IDA’s myriad capabilities, delivering ease of use for drivers.”

Kai Grunitz, a member of the Board of Management Volkswagen Brand for Technical Development, claims the company has always democratized technology and made it accessible to the many.

Grunitz also added that “this is simply ingrained in our DNA. As a result, we are now the first volume manufacturer to make this innovative technology a standard feature in vehicles from the compact segment upwards. Thanks to the seamless integration of ChatGPT and strong collaboration with our partner, Cerence, we are offering our drivers added value and direct access to the AI-based research tool. This also underlines the innovative strength of our new products.”

ChatGPT and other language model chatbots have been known to provide inaccurate information, and OpenAI is the subject of several defamation and copyright infringement lawsuits.