Volkswagen announced on the third (local time) that it is going to launch ‘IDA’, a man-made intelligence (AI) voice assistant for vehicles with ‘ChatGPT’ integrated, in the USA.
IDA will first be installed on the 2025 Jetta and Jetta GLI models, in addition to the 82kWh battery version of the GLI and 2024 ID.4 models from the sixth, with other models to be applied later this 12 months.
This service is according to the ChatGPT integration plan announced at CES last January. At CES, along with Volkswagen, global automakers competitively announced the introduction of AI chatbots. Representative examples include Stellatis’ Peugeot and Mercedes-Benz.
Volkswagen has since established a separate research lab to develop AI products. Along with voice assistants, it is meant to introduce AI to electric vehicle charging, predictive maintenance, etc. This IDA was developed with voice technology partner Serence, and is understood to incorporate models aside from ChatGPT.
The voice assistant is alleged to be able to handling navigation, infotainment, climate control, and even general conversations comparable to suggesting restaurants or providing details about destinations. Activate it by saying “Hey IDA” or pressing a button on the steering wheel.
Moreover, to guard driver privacy, ChatGPT doesn’t access vehicle data and all data, including conversations, is instantly deleted.
Volkswagen emphasized that “the IDA voice assistant can handle complex conversational questions that transcend standard automotive functions, turning the driving experience into a very hands-free journey.”
Reporter Im Dae-jun ydj@aitimes.com
