Volkswagen to Introduce In-Car AI Assistant

Volkswagen US partnered with Google to introduce GenAI assistant features to its mobile app. They will combine connected car data with the Gemini model.

Volkswagen said the new virtual assistant in its myVW smartphone app will provide drivers with intuitive access to critical vehicle information and services that are specific to the car model. The carmaker said it deploys Google Cloud’s Vertex AI and BigQuery platforms for the service. The company added that the partners trained the Gemini models on multiple data including the car owner manual, frequently asked customers questions, help center articles, and YouTube videos. As a result, drivers can access information on how to change tires and details about car parts and specifications, Volkswagen said, noting it also worked with Google Cloud’s consulting arm to develop the system.

Gemini’s multimodal capabilities also allow drivers to access information on indicator lights by pointing their smartphone camera on the car dashboard. The system is initially available to MY24 Atlas and Cross Sport models, with wider availability for most MY20 and newer Volkswagen vehicles in 2025. Abdallah Shanti, chief information officer for Volkswagen Group of America, promoted the service as enhancing the ownership experience for all of Volkswagen. “AI is emerging as a utility tool for Volkswagen owners to better understand their vehicles and get answers to questions faster and easier,” Shanti said.