Volkswagen vehicles to integrate ChatGPT

Volkswagen is integrating artificial intelligence-based chatbot ChatGPT into its vehicles.

The firm is presenting its first vehicles equipped with the technology at the 2024 Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, although it has revealed the technology in pictures of what could be our first look of the facelifted Golf GTI (read our review of the outgoing Golf GTI here) for all of us stuck at home.

Enlarged infotainment screen aside, the updated Golf GTI looks set to return to physical buttons on its steering wheel

The firm states that the new feature will come integrated into its IDA voice assistant come the second quarter of 2024, making Volkswagen the first volume manufacturer to offer ChatGPT as a standard feature in its vehicles.

The technology is set to be offered in conjunction with the latest generation of Volkswagen's infotainment system in models including the ID.7, ID.4, ID.5, and the ID.3, as well as the new Tiguan and Passat and the updated Golf. We'll note here that, to our eyes at least, the revealed images of the updated Golf GTI show it sporting the firm's 15-inch freestanding infotainment system, while its steering wheel now sports physical buttons.

Integration of ChatGPT will allow your Volkswagen to answer general knowledge questions, or deliver vehicle-specific information

Integration of ChatGPT into the IDA voice assistant system will allow it to not only control the infotainment, navigation, and air-conditioning settings, but also to answer general knowledge questions. The technology will also allow the vehicle to clear up questions, interact with users in an intuitive language, and receive vehicle-specific information, all hands-free.

Volkswagen states that there will be no need for account creation or to install an app to activate ChatGPT in its vehicles. The voice assistant is simply activated by saying 'Hello IDA', or by pressing a button on the steering wheel. The system then automatically prioritises whether a vehicle function should be executed, a destination searched, and the cabin temperature adjusted. If the request cannot be answered by the Volkswagen system, it is then forwarded anonymously to AI and the familiar Volkswagen voice responds.

It states that ChatGPT will not gain access to vehicle data, and that questions and answers are deleted immediately to ensure the highest possible level of data protection.