Volkswagen, a German carmaker, announced on Wednesday that it has set up its own artificial intelligence lab. This move reflects the industry’s growing desire to incorporate the trendy technology.
Volkswagen stated in a news release that its new artificial intelligence lab will function as a “globally networked competence center and incubator” to generate proofs of concept in the field of technology related to developments in the automotive industry.
Research and development centers for artificial intelligence advancements are known as AI laboratories. These kind of labs are frequently seen at OpenAI, which Microsoft has funded with billions of dollars, and DeepMind at Google, which the Alphabet-owned internet behemoth purchased in 2014.
Volkswagen promised to integrate AI advancements from its lab into its own cars to make them smarter. “We aim to use artificial intelligence to provide our customers with real additional value.” According to Oliver Blume, CEO of the Volkswagen Group and Porsche AG, “We aim to link external digital ecosystems with the vehicle, creating an even better product experience.“
Working together with IT firms is really important to us. Our goal is to streamline cooperation on an organizational and cultural level going forward. Volkswagen has no plans to produce any production models of its own, but it will speak with partners about licensing its in-house AI technology to be used in their cars. Volkswagen did not mention any possible collaborators.
The automaker stated that the lab is working on AI solutions related to predictive maintenance for automobiles, electric vehicle charging optimization, and connecting vehicles to customers’ homes via internet-connected gadgets. The business added that it would investigate using AI to enable voice recognition in cars.
The news coincides with other automakers making significant investments in artificial intelligence to strengthen their technological positions and enhance the intelligence of their vehicles.
Late this year, French automaker DS Automobiles started incorporating ChatGPT inside their cars. As early as June 2023, Mercedes-Benz and Microsoft began testing ChatGPT capability in cars. Meanwhile, Chinese electric vehicle behemoth BYD unveiled a smart car system driven by artificial intelligence to better take on competitors in cutting-edge technology like autonomous parking.
lowering dependence on internet giants
Volkswagen’s announcement of its AI lab mirrored the goal of well-known IT businesses who have invested in or founded their own AI research divisions. Volkswagen may become more self-sufficient as a result of the change, depending less on outside AI software from major tech companies like Google, Apple, Microsoft, and Amazon.
Volkswagen has already increased the scope of its AI research; at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, the company most recently revealed that ChatGPT will be integrated into its vehicles. As part of it, the carmaker was not counting on its own proprietary technology, but rather on OpenAI as a technological partner.
Volkswagen will be able to choose the kinds of artificial intelligence it uses in the future by setting up an AI lab, however it will have a difficult time competing with the high-caliber products coming from research labs like OpenAI that are already well-established.
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