Digital mapping specialist TomTom has announced a collaboration with tech giant Microsoft to develop an artificial intelligence (AI)-powered conversational assistant for vehicles. This partnership aims to provide users with a natural way to interact with their vehicles, facilitating voice commands for infotainment, location searches, and vehicle controls.
TomTom, a key player in digital mapping, faces competition from industry leaders like Google Maps and HERE. To create the voice assistant, the company utilized various Microsoft services, including the Azure OpenAI Service.
The Microsoft Azure OpenAI Service, known for leveraging ChatGPT's large language models (LLM), serves as a foundational element for enterprises seeking to integrate advanced AI capabilities.
The voice assistant developed through this collaboration is not limited to TomTom's ecosystem; it can seamlessly integrate into other automotive infotainment systems. Additionally, it is an integral part of TomTom's Digital Cockpit, an open and modular in-vehicle infotainment platform.
Taco Titulaer, TomTom's finance chief, highlighted the company's strategic focus on generative AI, emphasizing their commitment by stating, "TomTom is investing time, money, and people into the technology." This move aligns with the company's previous launch of an LLM plug-in for ChatGPT, allowing users to plan trips and explore new locations using TomTom's mapping services.
The collaboration between TomTom and Microsoft dates back to 2016 when TomTom initially powered Azure Maps location services. This ongoing partnership signifies the companies' shared commitment to advancing technology within the automotive and mapping sectors.
