15-6-2023 (STUTTGART) Mercedes-Benz has announced that it will be launching a test program in the United States, allowing drivers to power certain luxury vehicles using ChatGPT. The program is set to commence on June 16 and will be compatible with approximately 900,000 vehicles equipped with Mercedes’ “MBUX” systems. Interested drivers can opt in to the program through the Mercedes app or via voice command, after which ChatGPT will be downloaded over the air. The three-month test period aims to evaluate how drivers utilize the technology.
Mercedes stated that ChatGPT will enhance the naturalness of the car system’s responses and enable drivers to make inquiries about destinations or seek information on various topics, such as dinner recipes. Previously, the automaker allowed drivers and passengers to issue voice commands for tasks like activating seat heaters.
This collaboration with ChatGPT is a significant development for Microsoft, which is supplying a version of the popular chatbot through its cloud services. In response to Amazon’s efforts to integrate its voice assistant Alexa into vehicles, Microsoft’s investment in OpenAI, the creator of ChatGPT, serves as its answer.
According to a press release by Mercedes, drivers will not only be able to give commands using the phrase “Hey Mercedes,” but they will also be able to engage in conversations with their cars. In a separate blog post, Microsoft revealed that ongoing integrations, referred to as plug-ins, could potentially enable drivers to make restaurant reservations, purchase movie tickets, and perform other tasks while on the road.
Insights gained from the test program will inform Mercedes’ plans for expanding the use of artificial intelligence in other countries and languages. The company clarified that voice data will be stored, anonymized, and analyzed in the Mercedes cloud.
In a related collaboration, General Motors had previously announced in March its exploration of using ChatGPT in vehicles as part of its broader partnership with Microsoft.
