Have you heard of artificial intelligence (AI)? Wait! Before you scroll away… That, of course, was a joke. Not that you would want to, but it’s difficult to escape the conversation about AI, and especially, generative AI (GenAI), a seemingly “overnight success” in user infotainment.

And what’s the one thing we know about overnight success? It usually takes decades.

We have barely crossed the threshold into the era of the software-defined vehicle (SDV), and the impact of GenAI is already altering “the norm”, breaking boundaries, creating entirely new landscapes for carmakers, suppliers, and consumers to explore.

To be sure, a time will come when all this innovation and excitement will merge into the everyday ordinary, and we’ll be as used to AI-enhanced SDVs as we are with the smartphone. The “overnight success” of GenAI and its incorporation into the SDV will be working its magic beneath our perception in the background of our everyday lives. It will all seem so normal, like it’s been that way forever.

However, that time is not now.

Currently, the world is excited to see the progress emerging from decades of seen and unseen innovation. Now is a time where intelligence seamlessly converges with mobility, creating a more refined and enjoyable user experience for drivers.     

At the heart of the modern SDV UX lies our next-gen cockpit within Elektrobit’s Digital Life Experience (DLE) solutions. A domain where AI, specifically GenAI, emerges as the figure in the spotlight, rising from the nutrient-rich ground of recent automotive innovation. Intuitive, immersive, and personalized driving experiences are establishing the new normal.

Technology’s renaissance

The SDV cockpit incorporating GenAI is making possible the notion of virtual companions within the SDV’s digital cockpit. OpenAI’s ChatGPT opened the floodgate turning language into a natural bridge between human and machine. Google’s Gemini, the successor of the formidable “Bard,” and Amazon’s Alexa Large Language Model contribute to answering this calling of “what’s possible?”

Then there’s the visual realm, soon to inhabit SDV displays with generative image AI models. OpenAI’s DALL-E, a pioneer in transforming textual prompts into lifelike images, joins the ensemble alongside Midjourney and Stable Diffusion, to name a few. These models don’t merely generate images; they can display immersive visual interactions within the SDV’s digital cockpit according to user input.

Intuitive and immersive infotainment

Stepping into the SDV’s digital cockpit is an experience in natural symbiosis. Intuitive voice controls will feel just like a natural conversation, allowing drivers immersive access to the features at their command. The dialogue between driver and vehicle is a two-way conversation, characterized by Natural Language Understanding (NLU) and Natural Language Processing (NLP). The SDV doesn’t merely respond; it comprehends and adapts to the nuances of human expression.

This interaction extends beyond the functional to the emotional, embodying qualities that are lifelike, convenient, and comfortable. The SDV’s digital cockpit, enhanced with AI, becomes a responsive companion, predicting needs, preferences, and even offering empathetic interactions. It’s not just about mobility; it’s about maintaining a familiar connection, where the vehicle becomes attuned to the driver’s habits, moods, and individuality.