Toronto, Ontario — If ChatGPT hasn’t come across your newsfeed enough recently, Mercedes-Benz announced last week a beta program where drivers can try out a new in-car AI assistant, powered by OpenAI’s groundbreaking software.
Where many current voice assistant features are limited to a predefined library of understood phrases and responses, vehicle’s equipped with the automaker’s MBUX infotainment system will make use of ChatGPT’s advanced language-learning algorithm, should the driver opt into the beta.
The “Hey Mercedes” assistant will not be limited to just responding to voice commands, but will even be capable of holding conversations with the driver.
“Soon, participants who ask the voice assistant for details about their destination, to suggest a new dinner recipe, or to answer a complex question, will receive a more comprehensive answer—while keeping their hands on the wheel and eyes on the road,” the company wrote in a press release.
Additionally, drivers and passengers can receive sports and weather updates, have questions answered about their surroundings or even control their smart homes via the ChatGPT-powered beta.
“The integration of ChatGPT with Microsoft in our controlled cloud environment is a milestone on our way to making our cars the centre of our customers’ digital lives,” said Markus Schäfer, CTO of development and procurement at Mercedes-Benz.
“Our beta programme boosts the existing Hey Mercedes functions such as navigation queries, weather requests and others with the capabilities of ChatGPT. This way, we aim to support conversations with natural dialogues and follow-up questions.”
The beta is currently only available to U.S. customers driving vehicles equipped with the MBUX infotainment system. To opt into the beta, the driver must simply say “Hey Mercedes, I want to join the beta program.”
