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BMW AI: A smarter voice assistant for your car
Artificial intelligence (AI) was the hottest topic at the 2024 CES in Las Vegas, where many startups and tech giants showcased their latest innovations. Among them, car manufacturers also joined the AI bandwagon, with BMW, Mercedes-Benz, and Volkswagen making some impressive announcements.
However, not all AI applications are equally reliable. Some of them, like ChatGPT, are prone to hallucinations, meaning they can generate inaccurate or misleading information. This can be a serious problem, especially when it comes to cars, where safety and functionality are paramount.
How BMW AI solves the hallucination problem
BMW AI is a new feature that aims to provide a trustworthy and useful voice assistant for your car. It uses a large language model (LLM), similar to Amazon’s Alexa LLM, but with a twist: it only sources information from internal BMW documentation about the car.
This means that BMW AI can only tell you facts that are verified and relevant to your car. It cannot make up things or give you wrong answers. This is a technique called Retrieval-Augmented Generation, which limits the scope of the LLM to a specific domain.
BMW AI is not just a simple query-and-answer system. It is more like a smart car manual, that can explain anything about your car in detail and with nuance. It can also give you personalized recommendations based on your preferences and driving conditions.
For instance, you can ask BMW AI to activate a certain drive mode or to tell you the differences between the drive modes. You can even ask it something like, “I’m going on a drive on a twisty road. Which drive settings would you recommend?”
Why BMW AI is valuable for car owners
You might think that this is a trivial feature, but it is very valuable for car owners, especially those who own modern and premium cars. These cars are often equipped with a plethora of features and functions, that can be overwhelming and confusing for many drivers.
Most car manufacturers have stopped printing paper manuals because they are too bulky and outdated. Instead, they rely on digital manuals or voice assistants, which are not always user-friendly or intuitive. They often require you to know the exact name of the feature you are looking for or to navigate through complex menus and screens.
BMW AI solves this problem by being more conversational and flexible. It can understand your intent even if you don’t use the exact terminology and clarify your request by asking follow-up questions. It can also simplify the explanation by using analogies or examples, such as: “Explain that to me like I’m a 5-year-old.”
For instance, if someone inquires about Efficient mode, the car explains it as follows: “Efficient mode is similar to playing a game where you aim to win using the fewest pieces. In this mode, the car’s systems collaborate to minimize fuel consumption, benefiting both the environment and your finances.”
BMW AI is not only useful for novice or unfamiliar drivers but also for power users and automobile enthusiasts. It can help them discover and explore the full potential of their car, and enhance their driving experience.
When and how to get BMW AI
BMW AI is not a futuristic concept, but a reality that is coming soon. It will be part of the company’s current Intelligent Personal Assistant, which is already available in some models. It will be compatible with cars running Operating System 9, which is expected to launch later this year.
BMW AI is not limited to car-related information, but it will also expand to include other features, such as navigation and points of interest. BMW did not specify when these features will be added, but they promised that this is just the first step of their AI journey.
BMW AI is a groundbreaking innovation that sets a new standard for in-car voice assistants. It is a smarter, safer, and more convenient way to interact with your car. If you want to experience it yourself, you will have to wait until this summer, when BMW AI will be ready for your questions.
