Mercedes Offers Voice Control Through ChatGPT
ChatGPT is about to embark on a journey.
Mercedes-Benz said Thursday that U.S. drivers could use ChatGPT in some of its luxury vehicles in a test program starting June 16.
Compatible with about 900,000 cars equipped with the automaker’s “MBUX” system, ChatGPT is downloaded wirelessly when drivers select the Mercedes app or by voice command, the company said. The test will last three months, during which Mercedes will see how the drivers use the technology.
Mercedes said ChatGPT would make its car’s responses sound more natural, allowing drivers to ask for destination information or answer other questions like what to make for dinner.
The automaker had previously allowed drivers and passengers to make several voice requests, such as turning on the seat heaters.
The ChatGPT deal means business for Microsoft, which offers a version of the popular chatbot through its cloud.
Rival Amazon.com has long been working to install voice assistant Alexa in more cars, and now Microsoft has an answer by investing in ChatGPT’s creator, OpenAI.
In a press release, the German automaker said drivers will not only be able to utter commands via the phrase “Hey Mercedes,” but they will also be able to converse with their cars.
In a separate blog post, Microsoft said that continuous integrations, known as plug-ins, could one day allow drivers to make restaurant reservations, book movie tickets and perform other tasks behind the wheel.
The results of the test program inform Mercedes’ plans to add such artificial intelligence to other countries and in other languages, the company said. Voice data is stored, anonymized and analyzed in the Mercedes cloud, it added.
Competitor General Motors said in March that it was investigating the use of ChatGPT in vehicles as part of its broader cooperation with Microsoft.
