Volkswagen Group has deployed Cerence Inc.'s Chat Pro, its automotive-grade ChatGPT integration, to models across Volkswagen’s European lineup via cloud update. Cerence and Volkswagen first announced their collaboration to launch the new enhancements to the IDA in-car assistant at CES 2024 earlier this year.
Volkswagen’s roll-out of Cerence Chat Pro will continue globally, including in the U.S., later this year and through early 2025, and will include new features and improvements.
Volkswagen is leveraging Cerence Chat Pro to enable its customers to engage the in-car voice assistant in "fun and conversational chit-chat," using several sources, including ChatGPT’s large language model, to provide relevant responses to nearly every query imaginable. Built specifically for the in-car experience, Cerence Chat Pro is integrated into Volkswagen’s IDA voice assistant, which uses Cerence’s hybrid approach to deliver seamless interaction across both vehicle command and control features embedded in the car’s head unit as well as access to cloud-based content and real-time, web-based information.
Cerence Chat Pro is now live in five languages -- English (U.S), English (UK), German, Spanish and Czech -- across Volkswagen Group brands, including Volkswagen, Cupra, Seat and Skoda, that use the IDA voice assistant. This includes all new Volkswagen ID. models, the updated Golf, the new Tiguan and the new Passat, as well as legacy models.
“Volkswagen has a long tradition of democratizing 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,” said Kai Grünitz, member of the Volkswagen Brand Board of Management responsible for development.
