Do you know what the world needs more of this morning? That’s right — AI. TomTom and Microsoft announced a partnership that’ll bring artificial intelligence to cars. Possibly because TomTom misses being inside your vehicle. Specifically, TomTom’s announcement promises a “fully integrated, AI-powered conversational automotive assistant,” that’ll dig its claws into the car’s infotainment system sooner rather than later.
TomTom in your head (and car)
As is the point of artificial intelligence, TomTom’s AI is designed to relieve its owner of the tasks you’d find in a car. No, it won’t drive the thing, but it will control aspects like the car’s temperature, electric windows, or radio stations (and pretty much anything else that’d usually need a human’s touch). It’ll do that all while conversing “naturally” with its owner when asking for new routes or stops mid-journey. “All with a single interaction,” the announcement reads.
We (or anyone) haven’t yet had the chance to try this, but when TomTom says it’ll offer “more sophisticated voice interaction”, we believe them. That’s because of the tech behind it — Microsoft’s OpenAI large language models, bolstered by Microsoft’s Azure Cosmos DB and Azure Cognitive Services. That might look like a jumble of words (and it is), but the gist is that Cognitive Services is made up of AI APIs that will allow the car’s AI to access some of the technology’s latest advanced features.
There aren’t any demos of TomTom’s tech in action just yet, but according to Engadget, the GPS company is planning to show it off at CES in January 2024, along with some more information on how it all works.
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“With this next generation of AI, we have a unique opportunity to accelerate innovation across the entire automotive sector,” said Dominik Wee, Corporate Vice President for Manufacturing and Mobility, Microsoft. “We’re building on our longstanding collaboration with TomTom and bringing together AI advances across the Microsoft Cloud with TomTom’s automotive expertise to provide drivers and carmakers with new AI-powered tools. This integration will enable OEMs to offer highly differentiated and unique cockpit experiences, while preserving their unique brand identity.”
TomTom’s AI won’t be limited in where it can go, either. It’ll first be integrated into the company’s own Digitial Cockpit, what it calls “an open, modular in-vehicle infotainment platform.” The company also reckons it’ll start turning up in other car brands’ infotainment systems — with TomTom noting that those who take up the offer will still retain ownership of their branding. No official partnerships for the tech have yet been announced, but we’re guessing that won’t be the case for long.
