Carlsbad/Stuttgart, June 15, 2023 – Mercedes-Benz is pushing the boundaries of artificial intelligence integration in its vehicles by introducing ChatGPT, a sophisticated language model, to its MBUX (Mercedes-Benz User Experience) vehicles in the United States. By leveraging the capabilities of Microsoft Azure OpenAI Service, Mercedes-Benz aims to enhance the voice control experience and make it even more intuitive for customers. This development marks another significant step in Mercedes-Benz’s commitment to integrating AI technology into its vehicles.
The MBUX beta program, starting on June 16, 2023, will enable over 900,000 U.S. customers with MBUX-equipped vehicles to participate and experience the benefits of ChatGPT. To join the beta program, customers can either use the Mercedes me app or simply say, “Hey Mercedes, I want to join the beta program,” directly from their vehicles. The integration of ChatGPT will be delivered over-the-air, allowing for seamless and convenient updates.
The MBUX Voice Assistant, known for its industry-leading standards of intuitive operation and a wide range of commands, will be complemented by ChatGPT. While traditional voice assistants are often limited to predefined tasks and responses, ChatGPT’s advanced language model greatly enhances natural language understanding and expands the topics to which it can respond. Mercedes-Benz is combining the strengths of both systems, merging the validated data of the MBUX Voice Assistant with ChatGPT’s natural dialogue format. As a result, users will have access to a voice assistant that not only understands natural voice commands but can also engage in conversations.
With ChatGPT, participants in the beta program will experience a more comprehensive voice assistant that can provide detailed information about destinations, suggest dinner recipes, answer complex questions, and more. All of this can be achieved while keeping their hands on the wheel and eyes on the road, ensuring a safer and more convenient driving experience.
To facilitate the integration of ChatGPT, Mercedes-Benz has partnered with Microsoft, leveraging the power of Azure OpenAI Service. This collaboration enables Mercedes-Benz to utilize OpenAI’s large-scale generative AI models while benefiting from Azure’s enterprise-grade security, privacy, and reliability capabilities. It is important to note that Mercedes-Benz maintains complete control over the IT processes, ensuring data privacy for its customers. The voice command data collected is stored in the Mercedes-Benz Intelligent Cloud, where it is anonymized and analyzed, protecting customer data from manipulation and misuse.
Markus Schäfer, Member of the Board of Management of Mercedes-Benz Group AG and Chief Technology Officer, Development & Procurement, emphasizes the significance of this integration, stating, “The integration of ChatGPT with Microsoft in our controlled cloud environment is a milestone on our way to making our cars the center of our customers’ digital lives.” He further emphasizes the company’s commitment to data privacy and customer protection.
Mercedes-Benz’s beta program not only provides customers with early access to the latest technologies but also offers valuable insights to the development team. The feedback and specific requests gathered during the program will help prioritize future enhancements to voice control. Findings from the beta program will contribute to the ongoing improvement of the intuitive voice assistant and guide the rollout strategy of large language models in more markets and languages.
As an industry leader, Mercedes-Benz understands the importance of responsible AI integration. ChatGPT, built on OpenAI’s advanced neural network, aligns with Mercedes-Benz’s AI principles to make innovative AI solutions accessible to customers while addressing potential risks. The company’s responsible approach to generative AI solutions ensures that customer benefits and data privacy remain top priorities.
With the integration of ChatGPT into MBUX vehicles, Mercedes-Benz is transforming the driving experience, allowing customers to interact.
