Mercedes-Benz unveils new AI-powered virtual assistant

Mercedes-Benz has unveiled its new integrated MBUX Virtual Assistant at the 2024 Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas.

The new system will first appear on the Mercedes-Benz Modular Architecture (MMA), which the Concept CLA Class (which celebrates its North American premiere at the exhibition) is based upon.

The new MBUX Virtual Assistant is visualised as a 3D 'living' star that can vary its movement, brightness, intensity, or colour to express different moods

Running on the in-house-developed Mercedes-Benz Operating System (MB.OS), the new MBUX Virtual Assistant is said to offer the most human-like interface from a Mercedes-Benz yet, and makes use of generative AI and proactive intelligence to make life as easy, convenient and comfortable as possible.

Mercedes states, for example, that the system can learn to play the latest news in the morning or initiating a preferred massage programme at the end of the working day. And if the driver is running late for a meeting entered into the calendar, the system can offer to dial in directly from the car.

Use of large language models will also allow the MBUX Virtual Assistant to deliver natural dialogue in response to queries and commands. The assistant will be able to answer questions based on general knowledge and can also ask intelligent questions to clarify intent and draw conclusions. It will additionally also offer proactive suggestions and routines based on situational context, learned behaviour and using generative AI.

Supporting this new speech will be visual feedback, provided by a 'living' star avatar. Powered by the Unity game engine, the avatar will be presented via advanced 3D graphics and can vary its movement, brightness, intensity, or colour to express different moods and states of being.