TomTom Develops Generative AI Assistant For Vehicles In Collaboration With Microsoft (Image: TomTom)
TomTom, the renowned location technology specialist, has teamed up with Microsoft and developed an advanced artificial intelligence-powered voice assistant for vehicles based on the Microsoft Azure OpenAI Service. According to TomTom, drivers can “converse naturally” with their vehicle with its latest innovation and can ask the AI-powered assistant to navigate to a certain location and find specific stops along their route. Drivers can also vocally control onboard systems.
TomTom said in its statement that with this collaboration with tech giant Microsoft, it is bringing the benefits of generative AI to the global automotive industry. According to TomTom, the latest automotive assistant enables more sophisticated voice interaction with vehicle command systems, location search, and infotainment. With this AI-powered assistant, drivers can turn up the temperature, open windows, or change radio stations. “All with a single interaction,” added TomTom in the statement released on December 19.
TomTom”s technology leverages Microsoft backed OpenAI’s large language models, in addition to Azure Kubernetes Services, Azure Cosmos DB, and Azure Cognitive Services. Also, it is being built into TomTom’s Digital Cockpit, which is an open and modular in-vehicle infotainment platform. TomTom started working with Microsoft in 2016 by powering Azure Maps location services. Both companies later expanded their partnership to mapping data and services for Microsoft”s first-party maps. In July, TomTom unveiled an LLM plug-in for ChatGPT. This plug-in enables the chatbot”s users to plan trips and explore new places using its maps.
“Together with Microsoft, our shared vision is to drive innovation with generative AI and provide our customers with even better solutions,” said Mike Schoofs, Chief Revenue Officer of TomTom. Mike Schoofs also said that Microsoft and TomTom are transforming the in-vehicle experience, enabling drivers to ask their car for anything.
