IT Home reported on January 10 that the soon-to-be-released **Volkswagen Golf will be equipped with a ChatGPT voice assistant, which can be used to control various vehicle functions and provide information and entertainment services.
The new voice system, which will be used throughout Volkswagen's entire product line, focuses on "conversational" and "natural" interactions compared to existing in-car voice assistants. When a passenger says "I'm cold", the system turns on the air conditioner; When a rider says, "I need bread," the system will help you find a nearby store. In addition, the new system offers more features, such as reading detailed recipes or children's stories, to make the journey more enjoyable.
IT House notes that this innovation complements the interior design concept of Volkswagen's future models. While focusing on the reintroduction of physical buttons to improve practicality, the addition of voice interaction functions provides drivers with another convenient way to operate.
When asked why the introduction of physical buttons in Volkswagen was accompanied by voice control, Kai Grünitz, head of technical development at Volkswagen, said: "In China, people want to do everything with voice dialogue systems, such as adjusting seats and opening the trunk, while American consumers prefer a balance between tactile physical buttons and European consumers." We will continue to monitor how consumer needs change in the coming years to achieve the best of both worlds. ”
Grünitz further explains: "For me, it's not just a gimmick. We learned how users use it by studying home intelligence systems, such as Amazon's Alexa and Echo. We wanted to provide the same convenient and smooth interaction experience in the car. ”
Regarding the data privacy concerns that some users may be concerned about, Grünitz said: "Just like with a smartphone, users need to agree to the relevant terms of use. If you don't want to use a voice assistant, just simply say no and there will be no data exchange. ”
Grünitz also revealed that about 70 to 80 percent of Volkswagen EV owners are currently opting for in-vehicle connectivity, but admits that "we need to better convince consumers by demonstrating the practicality of the actual function." ”