Mercedes’ voice assistant adds AI to enhance functionality

• Mercedes-Benz’s MBUX voice assistant enhanced with AI can deliver accurate and up-to-date responses to a broad array of questions
• The new functionality relies on Microsoft’s Bing search engine and ChatGPT generative AI
• Mercedes plans to further leverage AI to deliver an even more personalized experience in the near future

Starting this week, certain Mercedes-Benz vehicles with the MBUX user interface can have the voice assistant’s functionality enhanced with artificial intelligence.

Mercedes has made it possible for its voice assistant to provide up-to-date answers to general knowledge questions by initiating a search using the Microsoft Bing search engine and then formulating the answer using Microsoft’s ChatGPT generative AI system.

Mercedes has been offering the new functionality in beta form to some vehicle owners over the past year, but now it is available as a free update to compatible vehicles. Currently, only the English and German languages are supported.

A user can ask the voice assistant anything by simply initiating with the prompt, “Hey, Mercedes.” The system will also recognize follow-up questions. For example, asking how many Grammy Awards a certain musician has. This could then be followed up with the question, “When was the first?” According to Mercedes, the system will recognize that the two questions are linked. The conversation history is stored for up to one hour, allowing users to ask follow-up questions.

According to Markus Schäfer, Mercedes’ R&D chief, the new functionality is another step toward the automaker’s goal of delivering a “hyper-personalized in-car user experience.”

To protect a user’s privacy, Mercedes said all the voice command data that is collected is anonymously stored in the automaker’s own cloud-based storage, where it can be analyzed. Mercedes said a risk assessment tool evaluates all the responses to block out illegal or controversial content.

Mercedes plans to further leverage AI to deliver an even more personalized experience in the near future. In January, the automaker said its next-generation user interface will offer more AI-enhanced functionality. For example, it will be able to provide suggestions based on a user’s routine and will also be able to tailor its responses based on the user’s mood. The next-generation user interface is expected to debut next year in the redesigned 2026 Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class.

Volkswagen and Audi have also been integrating ChatGPT in their vehicles recently.