Can your car hold a conversation?

Author

Matt V
January 15, 2025

AI TECH

Google Cloud has launched its Automotive AI Agent, which is built to make in-car interactions smarter and easier.

The first car to use it is the new Mercedes CLA, which comes with the upgraded MBUX Virtual Assistant and next-gen MB.OS system.

What’s new?

  • The updated MBUX Virtual Assistant can sound more human with traits like being natural, personal, predictive, and empathetic.

  • It can hold multi-step conversations, ask follow-up questions, and give real-time updates from Google Maps, including restaurant reviews and recommendations.

  • This system uses Google’s Gemini AI model and works through the Vertex AI platform for advanced features.

Conversations on the go

The older MBUX Voice Assistant, which runs on “Hey Mercedes,” handles 20 commands and now uses results from ChatGPT and Bing.

But it’s not built for real conversations. Mercedes plans to upgrade more models, but details on which ones are still unclear.

If my car can recommend tacos, we’re winning.