Mercedes-Benz Is Experimenting With ChatGPT AI Chatbot in Cars
Mercedes couldn't resist embracing the rising prominence of artificial intelligence (AI) chatbots such as ChatGPT. The renowned German automaker recently showcased how their future luxury cars and SUVs may seamlessly incorporate this technology to both inform and delight passengers. Their latest development, the 2024 E-Class interior and the introduction of Mercedes' advanced operating system known as MB.OS, promises to revolutionize infotainment systems, enable in-car purchases, and enhance entertainment experiences. Intrigued by the prospect of cutting-edge voice commands, we eagerly took the driver's seat and engaged in a series of interactive exchanges with the prototype in-car voice assistant.
Mercedes is introducing a new feature to enhance the luxury experience for its U.S. customers: ChatGPT. The renowned automaker will integrate OpenAI's conversational AI agent into its MBUX infotainment system, although the specific purpose for its inclusion remains uncertain.
Starting tomorrow, June 16, owners of Mercedes models equipped with MBUX will have the option to participate in a beta program, activating the ChatGPT functionality. This integration will empower the advanced language model to enhance the car's conversational abilities. Joining the beta program is as simple as instructing your car, "Hey Mercedes, I want to join the beta program."
However, it is not entirely clear how this feature will be utilized. After all, a car's environment is primarily focused on driving, navigation, media control, and basic functions, where a voice interface can provide a safer and more convenient interaction without distracting the driver.
Conversely, ChatGPT excels at mimicking human-like conversations on various topics, inventing information to maintain smooth exchanges. It can summarize content, generate code, or even assist with tasks like writing wedding vows. But are these activities suitable for engagement while driving or even as a passenger?
Mercedes describes the capabilities as follows:
Users will experience a voice assistant that not only understands natural language commands but also engages in meaningful conversations. Soon, participants can ask the Voice Assistant for destination details, dinner recipe suggestions, or answers to complex questions, and receive comprehensive responses while keeping their focus on the road.
While a complex query like "What's a good independent sandwich shop within half a mile of a gas station along my route?" might challenge a traditional voice interface, having this capability could be useful when driving alone. However, one may question the practicality of requesting dinner recipes while on the road as the primary use case.
As is often the case, the benefits of this technology are somewhat conceptual, and it is unlikely that drivers specifically requested this capability. It's possible that Mercedes chose to leverage a third-party solution like ChatGPT to streamline their voice interface service instead. Notably, the interface highlights "Powered by ChatGPT in Microsoft AI," appearing in MBUX and the Mercedes Me app, creating an interconnected system. The exact roles and responsibilities within this arrangement remain ambiguous.
WE DID OUR RESEARCH AND WE SEE HOW ELSE CHATGPT CAN BE USED WITH A CAR.
ChatGPT can be implemented in various ways within a car to enhance the overall driving experience and provide additional features. Here are a few examples:
Voice-controlled virtual assistant: ChatGPT can serve as a voice-controlled virtual assistant, allowing drivers to interact with the car's systems using natural language commands. It can help with tasks such as adjusting settings, accessing information, and providing real-time updates.
Personalized recommendations: By analyzing user preferences and historical data, ChatGPT can offer personalized recommendations for nearby attractions, restaurants, or points of interest based on the driver's interests and previous choices.
Concierge services: ChatGPT can provide concierge-like services, assisting drivers with making reservations, booking services, or finding nearby amenities like hotels, parking, or charging stations.
Intelligent navigation: ChatGPT can enhance the navigation system by providing dynamic and context-aware routing suggestions based on real-time traffic conditions, weather updates, and user preferences.
In-car entertainment: ChatGPT can engage in interactive and entertaining conversations, tell stories, play games, or even provide music recommendations based on the driver's mood or preferences.
Natural language assistance: ChatGPT can help answer general knowledge questions, provide weather updates, deliver news briefings, and offer translations or language assistance while on the road.
Smart home integration: With integration capabilities, ChatGPT can connect with smart home systems, allowing drivers to control home devices, adjust thermostats, or perform other tasks remotely using voice commands.
These are just a few possibilities, and the implementation of ChatGPT in a car can be further expanded based on the specific needs and preferences of drivers and manufacturers.
