Infotainment systems have become the cornerstone of the in-car experience, giving drivers and passengers direct access to mobile content and vehicle functions through touchscreens, physical controls, and voice commands. Enter the digital voice assistant, a hands-free approach to controlling infotainment and other in-car functions that elevates convenience, safety, and connectivity to a new level.
Digital assistants use artificial intelligence (AI), natural language processing, and machine learning to provide information and services through a conversational experience. Integration of this technology in vehicles has been around for a few years now and continues to advance on an ongoing basis, thanks in part to over-the-air (OTA) software updates.
Apple, Google, and Amazon are at the forefront of digital assistant technology, but other companies and developers make this functionality possible. In some cases, automakers such as BMW, Hyundai, Mercedes-Benz, and Toyota offer their own embedded digital voice assistants as part of their proprietary infotainment technology and connectivity platforms.
The most common digital voice assistants in cars are available through Apple CarPlay or Android Auto. By connecting your phone to your car, Apple Siri and Google Assistant allow voice access to your mobile content and apps. In effect, the vehicle becomes a mobile device you can engage with as you would speak to your iPhone or Samsung device.
Amazon Alexa Built-in and Google Built-in are increasingly popular alternatives, with the latter gaining ground as a default choice for automakers such as General Motors, Honda, and Volvo.
The ability to control infotainment functions by voice has three primary advantages: safety, convenience, and personalization.
From a safety perspective, digital voice assistants reduce the need for buttons, switches, and touchscreen displays, resulting in fewer distractions. That allows the driver to pay more attention to the road.
On the convenience side, voice technology replaces manual actions, such as scrolling or typing. Accomplishing tasks by simply speaking makes the in-car experience easier and more stress-free.
The third component is personalization through advanced machine learning. Over time, digital assistants become familiar with driver preferences, habits, and routines and can offer a more customized experience.
Unfortunately, access to a digital voice assistant that can control numerous in-vehicle functions often requires a subscription to the service, and those costs can add up over time. Meanwhile, Apple Siri, Google Assistant, and Amazon Alexa are free of charge as long as your vehicle supports them.
Digital Voice Assistants interact with you in an organic, conversational, easy-to-understand way. They can accomplish many tasks, including but not limited to:
The driver or passengers can achieve any of these tasks by uttering a quick catchphrase like, "Hey Siri," "Hey Google," or "Hey Alexa," followed by a command or question. That could be, "…take me to the nearest Indonesian restaurant," "…what is string theory," or "…play 80s road trip music." The more advanced the digital assistant, the more capable it is at processing multiple tasks and addressing complex requests.
Similarly, subscription-based digital voice assistants from automakers operate in the same manner. You might say, "Hey, BMW," "Hey, Mercedes," or "Hey, Toyota," and ask similar types of questions. The added benefit of these systems is that you can follow up with commands like, "…I'm too hot," "…turn on the seat heaters," or "…close the sunroof."
Some digital voice assistants can also allow you to control your car remotely. This functionality will enable you to do things such as start and stop your vehicle, set the climate controls, program audio preferences, and monitor the charging process for an electric vehicle. Remote commands can also apply to the home, allowing you to turn on lights, heat, and music while still on the road.
Despite the advancements in digital voice technology, there are some areas known to be problematic:
Addressing these concerns and implementing safeguards will make digital voice assistants more reliable and secure over time.
A digital voice assistant is a hands-free solution for safely, seamlessly, and naturally engaging with your infotainment system.
To learn more about infotainment technologies, visit the Shopping Guides section of the website.
Jessica Shea Choksey is an experienced writer in the automotive field. In addition to JDPower.com, she was a correspondent for PBS's MotorWeek. Her work has also appeared in AutoTrader.
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