Mercedes-Benz introduced a virtual assistant during the CES 2024, an electronics trade fair, showcasing remarkable capabilities that include context-based suggestions and interactive dialogue with users. This significant development marks a considerable stride in integrating artificial intelligence into automobiles.
The newly launched assistant boasts a range of features, including the ability to converse in diverse tones expressing various emotions and pose intelligent queries to ensure precise understanding of user inquiries, as stated by the company.
“The car is your dialogue partner. You can ask questions, have a conversation, be productive,” remarked Markus Schaefer, Mercedes’ chief technology officer, during a press roundtable held in Las Vegas.
Expected to be integrated into upcoming vehicles, notably the new concept CLA class, an electric variant of the carmaker’s smaller four-door model, debuting in North America at the trade show, this assistant represents Mercedes’ focus on innovative technology within the automotive industry.
With electric vehicles possessing simpler and more standardized hardware compared to traditional combustion-engine cars, automakers are distinguishing themselves through software offerings, emphasizing advancements in voice assistant technology.
Volkswagen also made strides in this domain, unveiling its initial vehicles featuring a voice assistant equipped with ChatGPT technology. This integration allows drivers to have researched content read aloud during their travels, showcasing the increasing sophistication of voice assistant technology in the automotive sector.
Set to engage in dialogue with users by mid-year and equipped with memory to recall past queries for responsive interactions, Volkswagen’s assistant promises enhanced functionality for drivers.
Highlighting an added feature, Mercedes-Benz emphasized a plausibility check incorporated into its new voice assistant. This check aims to verify the accuracy of responses by cross-referencing recommendations with cloud data and customer-reported information, ensuring reliability when suggesting locations like restaurants or shops.
“We feel that we have an obligation if we put something in the car that you can trust the information,” affirmed Schaefer, emphasizing the commitment to ensuring users receive trustworthy and dependable assistance through their vehicles.
