Volkswagen cars are equipped with ChatGPT voice assistant this year

German car giant Volkswagen says some of its latest cars will feature ChatGPT artificial intelligence within months.

The electric ID.3, ID.4, ID.5 and ID.7 will soon feature the AI ​​chatbot, as will the all-new Tiguan SUV, Passat estate and the upcoming Golf Mk8 facelift, with existing models getting the improvement from now on to get. March on.

Similar to fictional systems, including Iron Man's 'Jarvis' assistant and 'KITT' from the hit 1980s TV series Knight Rider, users can shout out virtually any command and have the AI ​​provide an appropriate (spoken) response.

Hello Michael! The availability of ChatGPT in new cars has been compared to KITT in Knight Rider – the fictional system built into the car of Michael Knight (played by David Hasselhoff) in the hit 1980s TV series Knight Rider.

Like Knight in the TV show, users can ask the latest questions about Volkswagen cars and receive voice answers on the go

VW cars equipped with the 'IDA' voice assistant will soon add ChatGPT functionality to new and existing cars on the road via over-the-air software updates.

In the future, it will offer customers “seamless access to its ever-growing artificial intelligence database,” with researched answers to every question they ask read aloud to them as they drive.

The system, which was first introduced at this year's Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas, is provided by the automaker's technology partner, Cerence Inc.

It is on display in the updated Volkswagen Golf GTI.

The announcement does offer the first glimpse of the interior of the facelifted Golf, which will feature a new – larger – free-standing infotainment screen compared to the integrated display used in the high-end models of the Mk8 hatchback that hit the UK market early this year. popped up. 2020.

Our first glimpse of the facelifted Mk8 Golf shows a larger infotainment screen than in the current vehicle

Announcing ChatGPT functionality demonstrated in the updated Volkswagen Golf GTI (photo)

The facelifted Mk8 Golf GTI will likely be the last with a petrol engine before VW ditches combustion power as part of its transition to electric vehicles

The electric ID.3, ID.4, ID.5 and ID.7 (pictured right) will soon feature the AI ​​chatbot, as will the all-new Tiguan SUV, Passat estate and the upcoming Golf GTI facelift (left)

The Golf 'Mk8.5' facelift – including the GTI hot hatch – will be the last to use an internal combustion engine

As you would expect from a Golf GTI, the facelift gets a wide body kit, flared wheel arches, a large rear spoiler and enormous exhaust pipes

While DS Automobiles last year became the first car brand to offer ChatGPT voice command integration, Volkswagen bosses claim it will be the first 'volume manufacturer' to offer the AI ​​chatbot as a standard feature.

It will serve as an extension of the existing IDA command system and provide a better voice control functionality for the infotainment, navigation and air conditioning settings – and will even be able to answer general knowledge questions on the go.

If the request cannot be answered by the Volkswagen system, it is forwarded anonymously to AI and the familiar VW voice responds.

It is activated with the phrase: 'Hello IDA' or by pressing a button on the steering wheel.

“In the future, AI will provide additional information in response to questions beyond that, as part of its continuously growing capabilities,” VW says.

'This can be useful on many levels during a car journey: enriching conversations, clarifying questions, communicating in intuitive language, receiving vehicle-specific information and much more – purely hands-free.'

The German carmaker says the ChatGPT system will not access vehicle data, adding that any questions and answers will be deleted immediately to ensure the highest possible level of data protection.

“Volkswagen has always democratized technology and made it accessible to everyone,” says Kai Grünitz, head of technical development.

'This is simply in our DNA. As a result, we are now the first volume manufacturer to make this innovative technology standard in vehicles from the compact segment onwards.

'Thanks to the seamless integration of ChatGPT and the strong collaboration with our partner Cerence, we offer our drivers added value and direct access to the AI-based research tool. This also underlines the innovative power of our new products.'

Cerene, VW's technology partner that provides the AI ​​chatbot system in its cars, said it will “enable drivers and passengers to engage the in-car assistant in fun and conversational conversations.”

Cerene bosses said the system will “enable drivers and passengers to engage the in-car assistant in fun and conversational conversations” by “leveraging a host of sources, including ChatGPT, to provide accurate and relevant answers to almost every conceivable question'.

Volkswagen's update to the Mk8 Golf will likely be the last version of the famous nameplate powered by an internal combustion engine, the company hinted last year.

VW first launched the Golf in 1974 and the name has since acquired legendary status.

However, VW's move to electric cars means that the current eighth-generation version will be the last with a petrol engine.

VW will launch ten new electric models by 2026, including the 'affordable' ID.2 crossover, which is expected to cost less than €25,000 – that's around £22,000 – when it goes on sale in three years.

The automaker plans to keep the Golf name for a future electric model, but the first release is likely in 2028.