Volkswagen and Skoda brings ChatGPT to their vehicles

Carmaker Volkswagen and Skoda have announced ChatGPT integration to their newest and existing vehicle family with a cloud-based large language model (LLM).

The new AI-based search tool is now available for all new models from the Electric ID., Golf, Tiguan, and Pussat series. Customers can access the ChatGPT via IDA voice assistant. Volkswagen car owners can listen to the search results and interact with the car’s system in natural conversation language.

VW cars enable users to control infotainment, navigation, and climate control via voice assistant. The new capability allows the assistant to answer questions such as finding a new tourist spot, asking football game scores, or solving math problems on the go.

Volkswagen ChatGPT Integration in IDA Voice Assistant (Source – Volkswagen)

ChatGPT is available for existing VW Connect/VW Connect Plus by saying the command “Hello IDA” or pressing the button on the steering.

The German company announced a collaboration with OpenAI to bring ChatGPT during CES 2024. Its cars can interact with this voice assistant in English (US, UK), Spanish, Czech, and German.

Skoda

The Czech car maker has rolled out Chat Pro for Laura’s voice assistant. The Chat Pro integration bridges the voice assistant and the AI tool ChatGPT to answer questions beyond car-only features.

For example, if the question doesn’t fall into the categories such as Vehicle, Data, Weather, News, Sports, or Stocks, it will redirect to Chat Pro. From there it will be connected to ChatGPT APIs and bring back the answer to Chat Pro to deliver to the Laura assistant.

ChatGPT integration into Skoda’s Laura voice assistant via Chat Pro solution (Source – Skoda)

Both of these car makers will redirect queries to ChatGPT when the question can not be answered by the car system. Skoda says its voice assistant will read the response “According to ChatGPT” when the car uses responses from the OpenAI server.

Laura assistant with Chat Pro is available for models built on the MEB GP and MQB EVO platforms with the latest generation of infotainment systems. That includes the Skoda Superb, Kodiaq, updated Skoda Octavia, and Skoda Enyaq series. Also, the new feature will be added with an over-the-air (OTA) software update.