STUTTGART, Germany and SUNNYVALE, Calif., Jan. 13, 2025 – Mercedes-Benz and Google Cloud have expanded their partnership to incorporate advanced conversational capabilities into the MBUX Virtual Assistant.
This enhancement is powered by Google Cloud's Automotive AI Agent, designed specifically for the automotive sector using Gemini on Vertex AI. The AI Agent will enable drivers to engage in natural language conversations to access information from the Google Maps Platform, covering 250 million global points of interest.
With real-time updates occurring over 100 million times daily, the MBUX Virtual Assistant can now respond to queries about nearby dining options and provide detailed navigation information. The new feature will debut with the upcoming Mercedes-Benz CLA series later this year.
Ola Källenius, CEO of Mercedes-Benz Group AG, emphasized the company's commitment to exceptional digital experiences, while Sundar Pichai, CEO of Google and Alphabet, highlighted the potential of AI to transform automotive interactions.
The Automotive AI Agent will also support complex dialogues and retain conversation history, enhancing user interaction during drives. This initiative marks a significant step towards integrating cutting-edge AI technology in vehicles, with plans for further rollout across additional models.