Digital mapping specialist TomTom said on Tuesday it has partnered with tech giant Microsoft to create an artificial intelligence (AI) driven conversational assistant for vehicles. The company said the assistant would allow users to “converse naturally with their vehicles” and enable voice interaction with infotainment, location search, and vehicle command systems. TomTom used various Microsoft products to build the assistant, including Azure OpenAI Service to leverage large language models and ChatGPT, an AI system designed for generating human-like text and engaging in conversations.
According to TomTom, the system also includes machine learning to build based on user interactions. It can understand requests from drivers that vary in complexity, such as locating the nearest petrol station or parking space or turning up the temperature in the car. It can also recognize common destinations and learn to make recommendations based on user preferences over time.
Unlike existing solutions, which are often limited by the vehicle’s onboard computing capabilities and the quality of voice recognition software, the company added that this assistant uses advanced speech processing to provide more accurate results, regardless of whether it is used in noisy environments. In addition, it has been engineered to meet strict automotive performance standards for voice recognition and natural language understanding.
RELATED STORY: $2.3 Billion Deal: IBM’s Acquisition of Software AG’s Enterprise Integration Platforms
The AI-powered assistant will be offered to automakers for integration into their in-vehicle navigation systems. It will be integrated into TomTom’s Digital Cockpit, an open modular in-vehicle infotainment platform the company uses for its built-in navigation devices. According to the company, the platform allows car manufacturers to accelerate time-to-market for a customizable interface while retaining ownership of the driver experience and branding.
To make people, cities, governments, and businesses move more freely, TomTom offers geolocation technologies and navigation software. Its products help drivers navigate to their destination, find the best route for their journey, and reduce their environmental impact by cutting congestion and fuel consumption.
2012 TomTom launched its ADAS Map, which supplies attribute-rich navigation data to support various automated driving functions. The map includes information about road gradients, lane markings, speed restrictions, traffic signs, and other road conditions to improve navigation guidance and driver comfort. It can also be used in more advanced automated vehicles to help them safely operate at higher levels of autonomy.
Automated vehicles need a centimeter-level accurate HD map to achieve the highest level of automation. This is what TomTom’s ADAS Software Virtual Horizon can do, enabling a driver in an autonomous vehicle to respond more quickly and accurately to road events. For non-automated vehicles, it will give drivers more warning of impending sharp bends or changes in the road surface. In contrast, for automated vehicles, it will enable the vehicle to take control when necessary. This new ADAS software will be available in embedded and standalone navigation devices next year.
