#087 How Tata Technologies is Driving the Future of Mobility with AI, Volkswagen’s Leap into AI: Integrating ChatGPT in Cars
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AI BYTE #1 📢: How Tata Technologies is Driving the Future of Mobility with AI
⭐ The automotive industry is undergoing a rapid and unprecedented transformation, driven by the convergence of advanced technologies such as AI, cloud computing, and 5G.
These technologies are enabling new possibilities for connected, autonomous, and electric vehicles, as well as enhancing the customer experience and improving operational efficiency.
One of the leading players in this space is Tata Technologies, a global engineering, research, and development (ER&D) company that started as an automotive design unit of Tata Motors in 1989.
Today, Tata Technologies works with more than 35 Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) across the globe, providing end-to-end solutions from the initial design phase to the aftermarket implementation.
Sriram Lakshminarayan, President and Chief Technical Officer at Tata Technologies, shared his insights on how AI is revolutionising the automotive industry and how his company is leveraging AI to deliver cutting-edge solutions to its clients.
According to Lakshminarayan, AI holds considerable importance in the industries Tata Technologies engages with, specifically in automotive, aerospace, and industrial heavy machinery. He said that AI is being integrated into various stages of the product lifecycle, from engineering to manufacturing to aftersales.
One of the key areas where AI is making a significant impact is the development of Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS), which enhance safety, efficiency, and comfort for drivers and passengers.
He added that ADAS solutions are poised to become standard features in every vehicle, regardless of its price point, reflecting a broader trend toward the integration of advanced technologies into the mainstream automotive market.
He also said that AI is enabling the emergence of Software Defined Vehicles (SDV), which are vehicles that can be updated and customised through software rather than hardware. SDV require a modern cloud-native software development toolchain that leverages strong developer tooling services with additional functionality specific to automotive.
Tata Technologies has recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with TiHAN IIT Hyderabad to develop SDV and ADAS solutions. The company has also showcased its SDV toolchain reference architecture at the International Congress for Automotive Electronics (ELIV) event in Bonn, Germany, in collaboration with Intel, Qualcomm, AWS, NXP, and ARM.
Another area where AI is playing a crucial role is the transition to EVs, which are expected to dominate the future of mobility. Lakshminarayan said that AI can help optimise the performance, efficiency, and durability of EV batteries, which are the most critical and costly components of EVs.
He cited a recent example of how researchers from Microsoft and scientists at the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) in Washington state used AI to design an industrial material that can be used to build a working battery requiring up to 70% less lithium than many competing designs. This breakthrough could potentially lower the cost and environmental impact of EV batteries, as well as accelerate the adoption of EVs.
He also highlighted how AI can enhance the customer experience and the role of dealerships in the automotive industry. He said that AI can enable intuitive and personalised communication between the vehicle and the driver, as well as provide real-time information about traffic, weather, and road conditions.
He also said that AI can facilitate digital selling and carpooling, as well as improve the quality and speed of car damage inspection and repair.
AI BYTE #2 📢: Volkswagen’s Leap into AI: Integrating ChatGPT in Cars
⭐ Volkswagen, in collaboration with Cerence Inc., has made a groundbreaking announcement at CES 2024 in Las Vegas.
The automobile giant has confirmed the integration of ChatGPT, an AI-based chatbot, into select cars and SUVs globally. This integration focuses on the current MEB and MQB EVO-based models.
The integration of ChatGPT into Volkswagen’s IDA voice assistant allows for intuitive and hands-free control of basic functions and vehicle-specific information.
This AI chatbot will be available in VW models with both electric and ICE drive. The new chatbot is offered in conjunction with the latest generation of infotainment in models such as ID.7, ID.4, ID.5, ID.3, the all-new Tiguan and the all-new Passat, as well as in the new Golf.
Enabled by Cerence Chat Pro, the integration of ChatGPT into the backend of the Volkswagen voice assistant offers a multitude of new capabilities that go far beyond the previous voice control.
For example, the IDA voice assistant can be used to control the infotainment, navigation, and air conditioning, or to answer general knowledge questions. In the future, AI will provide additional information in response to questions that go beyond this as part of its continuously expanding capabilities.
ChatGPT is seamlessly integrated into the IDA voice assistant. There is no need to create a new account, install a new app or activate ChatGPT. The voice assistant is activated by saying “Hello IDA” or pressing the button on the steering wheel. IDA automatically prioritizes whether a vehicle function should be executed, a destination searched or the temperature adjusted.
Volkswagen assures users that ChatGPT’s usage won’t require account creation or app installations, and all questions and answers are promptly deleted for enhanced data protection. ChatGPT does not gain access to any vehicle data.
Volkswagen’s integration of ChatGPT into its cars is a significant step towards enhancing the driver-car interaction. It promises a hands-free, intuitive experience, enriching conversations, providing vehicle-specific information, and simplifying interactions.
This move is in line with the trend of integrating AI assistants into vehicles, improving user experience and accessibility to vehicle data for maintenance and service processes.