Baidu, the Chinese tech giant, has joined hands with Great Wall Motor, the country’s leading SUV manufacturer, to integrate Baidu’s advanced AI model Ernie into its vehicles. This collaboration aims to revolutionize the automotive industry by introducing cutting-edge artificial intelligence capabilities into production cars.

The partnership between Baidu and Great Wall will focus on developing intelligent natural voice interaction applications for use in vehicles. By leveraging Ernie’s powerful capabilities, these applications are expected to enhance the driving experience for consumers, providing them with seamless and intuitive communication with their cars. However, Great Wall Motors has not yet revealed which models will feature the conversational technology or the exact launch timeline. 

This innovative technology is not limited to Great Wall Motor alone; Baidu has also established a similar collaboration with Ecarx, a promising tech startup backed by Geely. Together, they are exploring various in-vehicle interaction scenarios, utilizing the prowess of foundational AI models to validate numerous groundbreaking features for future production models.

source: GWM

The potential impact of this partnership is extensive, with features developed through these collaborations expected to extend to brands like Lynk & Co and Smart in the future. Baidu’s electric vehicle subsidiary, Jidu Auto, is already committed to using Ernie Bot in its forthcoming cars, with the first production model expected to debut in late 2023.

Baidu’s Ernie Bot, akin to ChatGPT, will enable dynamic conversations between drivers and their vehicles, ushering in a new era of intelligent automotive experiences. Ernie’s capabilities are promising, enabling dynamic interactions and emotional intelligence within the car, thereby catering to users’ deeper needs. 

In-vehicle voice assistants powered by AI models are gaining traction in the industry, with companies like Li Auto and Xpeng also investing in their own AI interaction experiences.

Li Auto showcased its in-vehicle voice assistant, Lixiang Tongxue, which leverages the cognitive foundational model Mind GPT to offer smart features, including teaching, car concierge services, drawing guidance, and programming assistance. While Xpeng has not made recent announcements about AI technology integration, the company believes that AI, exemplified by GPT, holds immense potential in advancing autonomous driving from Level 4 to Level 5.

As the automotive industry embraces AI models like Ernie Bot and GPT-related technologies, consumers can anticipate an enhanced driving experience with intelligent voice interactions and expanded autonomous driving capabilities.

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