Audi adds ChatGPT to its assistant for cars made starting in 2021

Audi has announced the integration of ChatGPT into its infotainment system from next month. Owners of around two million Audi cars made since 2021 will get it, if their cars are equipped with the third-generation modular infotainment system (MIB 3).

New vehicles like the Q6 e-tron and future models with the E3 1.2 electronics architecture will receive ChatGPT from launch as an extension of the Audi assistant.

Audi drivers will be able to use enhanced voice control to operate the infotainment, navigation, and AC systems like before, but from now on also ask general knowledge questions and get a response from ChatGPT.

The brand says the ability to ask for information using natural language makes driving safer since there's no need to take the eyes off the road at any point. The Audi assistant only forwards queries to ChatGPT when it cannot answer them itself. The overall experience is seamless thanks to the integration into the Audi assistant.

To ensure privacy, all questions and answers are deleted after processing (from the car), and ChatGPT never has access to any vehicle data. OpenAI could (and probably will) store your queries itself, but that's most likely not something Audi can do anything about.

In the future, Audi promises you'll be able to ask questions about the car, for example the correct tire pressure.

Marcus Keith, Vice President of Interior, Infotainment, and Connectivity Development at Audi, said:

With the seamless integration of ChatGPT into our voice control, we are combining the strengths of both applications. In addition to a range of voice-controlled functions, our customers will now benefit from simple and secure access to AI-based knowledge. This is the next step towards a best-in-class in-cabin experience in Audi vehicles.