Mercedes-Benz Virtual Assistant uses Google’s Conversational AI

Mercedes-Benz Unveils Enhanced AI-Powered Virtual Assistant

New MBUX Virtual Assistant: A Game-Changer in the Automotive Industry

When Mercedes-Benz revealed its new AI-powered virtual assistant at CES in 2024, it didn’t specify which company’s Language Model it was running on. However, the existing MBUX Voice Assistant system, which can handle about 20 commands triggered with "Hey Mercedes," now includes results provided by OpenAI’s ChatGPT and Microsoft Bing. But it’s not a conversational platform. According to Mercedes, there’s a plan to roll out this upgraded system to "further models" that run the older Voice Assistant, but it didn’t specify which ones.

What’s New in the MBUX Virtual Assistant?

The new MBUX Virtual Assistant will feature four "personality traits," including natural, predictive, personal, and empathetic. It can also ask you questions for additional clarity to get you what you need.

Google’s AI Agent: A Tailor-Made Solution for the Automotive Industry

Google’s new AI Agent is designed specifically for automotive uses, leveraging Google Maps data to find points of interest, look up restaurant reviews for you, give you recommendations, answer follow-up questions, and more. Google says MBUX Virtual Assistant users will get access to "nearly real-time" Google Maps updates. It also says it can "handle complex, multi-turn dialog."

The Technology Behind the Agent

The agent uses Gemini and runs on Google Cloud’s Vertex AI development platform, designed to help companies build out AI experiences. "This is just the beginning of how agentic capabilities can transform the automotive industry," Google CEO Sundar Pichai stated in a press release.

Conclusion

The new MBUX Virtual Assistant is expected to revolutionize the automotive industry with its advanced AI-powered capabilities. With its ability to understand and respond to natural language, it will provide a more intuitive and user-friendly experience for drivers. The partnership with Google’s AI Agent will further enhance the capabilities of the MBUX Virtual Assistant, offering a more comprehensive and personalized experience for users.

FAQs

Q: What is the new MBUX Virtual Assistant?
A: The new MBUX Virtual Assistant is an AI-powered virtual assistant designed to provide a more intuitive and user-friendly experience for drivers.

Q: What are the features of the new MBUX Virtual Assistant?
A: The new MBUX Virtual Assistant features four "personality traits," including natural, predictive, personal, and empathetic, and can ask questions for additional clarity to get you what you need.

Q: What is the partnership between Mercedes-Benz and Google?
A: The partnership is between Mercedes-Benz and Google, which will integrate Google’s AI Agent into the new MBUX Virtual Assistant, providing users with access to "nearly real-time" Google Maps updates and other features.

Q: When will the new MBUX Virtual Assistant be available?
A: The new MBUX Virtual Assistant is expected to be rolled out to "further models" that run the older Voice Assistant, but it didn’t specify which ones.