Mercedes Benz doesn’t want to be left out of the generative AI frenzy, and starting today incorporates ChatGPT in the voice assistant of their cars. The German automaker announced that users of more than 900,000 brand vehicles with the MBUX multimedia system, you can install the function now as part of an optional beta.
At the moment, ChatGPT will be available in Mercedes-Benz cars only in the United States. The company has not clarified if it plans to expand the test to other markets, although it would not be unusual for this to happen. As long as positive results are obtained, of course.
What Mercedes-Benz raises with this update is the possibility of expanding the reach of the voice assistant already available in the MBUX software. The company acknowledges that the commands controlled by speech tend to be quite stiff, something that is not limited to models of a specific brand. However, he believes that the technology behind ChatGPT could change the way drivers interact with their vehicle.
“Users will experience an assistant that not only accepts natural voice commands, but can also engage in conversations. Soon, participants who ask the voice assistant for details about their destination, suggest a new dinner recipe, or respond to a complex question, they will receive a more complete answer, while keeping their hands on the wheel and their eyes on the road,” the automaker said.
Mercedes-Benz is also getting on the ChatGPT bandwagon
It will be interesting to see if ChatGPT proves to be a useful addition to Mercedes-Benz cars, or if it’s just a marketing gimmick. It is worth noting that those who wish to access OpenAI technology must register in the optional beta, but the funny thing is that they can do it directly from their car.
According to the Teutonic brand, drivers should only sit in their car and say “Hey Mercedes, I want to join the beta program”. The download of the new voice assistant with ChatGPT will be done automatically and free of charge on compatible models. Once installed, the AI chatbot can be invoked using the command “Hey Mercedes” it already exists.
An interesting point behind this news is the alliance formed between Mercedes-Benz and Microsoft. After all, it will be those in Redmond who are bringing ChatGPT access to Germans through the Azure OpenAI service, which was announced earlier this year.
Also, while Mercedes promotes the use of ChatGPT as a means to chat with their cars, the real interest lies elsewhere. Specifically, in the integration with third-party services. OK with Microsoftthe automaker is “exploring the ecosystem of plugins” of the OpenAI chatbot to implement features that “increase comfort and productivity on the road.” For example, buying movie tickets or reserving a restaurant table directly from the car’s voice commands.
The ChatGPT beta in Mercedes-Benz cars will last 3 months. As for privacy, the automaker said it will retain full control over the handling of data in the background. What does this mean? That all the information entered into the voice assistant will be anonymized and will not leave the cloud infrastructure of the German firm.