Mercedes-Benz has announced a new partnership with Microsoft, leveraging the power of the Azure OpenAI Service to offer select car owners access to OpenAI’s ChatGPT through the automaker’s voice assistant. This collaboration aims to enhance the in-car experience and provide advanced conversational capabilities to users.
Initially, the integration of ChatGPT will be available through a three-month beta program exclusively for Mercedes-Benz customers in the United States. The program will be accessible to owners of select vehicles equipped with the company’s infotainment system, MBUX. Interested users can apply for the beta program via the Mercedes Me app or by utilizing the voice command, “Hey Mercedes, I want to join the beta program.” Over 900,000 vehicles in the United States will have access to the beta program.
Mercedes-Benz intends to offer more than just pre-prepared responses through ChatGPT. In addition to standard requests like adjusting the temperature or checking the weather forecast, the company is considering implementing a ChatGPT plugin that enables natural language tasks such as restaurant reservations and movie ticket bookings.
To ensure data protection and privacy, Mercedes-Benz emphasizes that Azure’s enterprise-grade security measures will safeguard user information. However, it’s important to note that user conversations will be stored in the anonymized and analyzed Mercedes-Benz Intelligent Cloud. While this allows for training and data analysis, users are advised to exercise caution when discussing private or personally identifiable information. Additionally, Mercedes-Benz reminds drivers to remain attentive on the road and be aware of potential distractions while using ChatGPT in their vehicles.
Throughout the three-month beta test period, Mercedes-Benz will gather user feedback and utilize the insights gained to enhance its voice assistant. The results will also inform the automaker’s strategy for deploying large language models in more markets and languages in the future.
Mercedes-Benz’s partnership with Microsoft to integrate OpenAI’s ChatGPT into its vehicles marks a significant step toward providing enhanced conversational experiences for car owners.
