BMW Cars to Get Virtual Assistant Next March

“…BMW Group emphasized its artificial intelligence, asserting that it can learn the driver’s habits, allowing it to offer directions based on a command like, ‘Take me home.'”

BMW cars will get their own virtual assistant early next year, dubbed the “BMW Intelligent Personal Assistant.”

The system will allow drivers to adjust various in-car settings on the road, and to ask the Assistant to look for fuel stations, provide directions, and respond to a wide range of other queries. It can also read out emails, and will be able to integrate with Microsoft Office 365 and Skype for Business, enabling drivers to more effectively deal with work on the road.

In announcing the forthcoming virtual assistant, BMW Group emphasized its artificial intelligence, asserting that it can learn the driver’s habits, allowing it to offer directions based on a command like, “Take me home.” It can also offer information about things like traffic jams along a route and parking locations near a given destination.

The company did not disclose which tech company, if any, is developing its BMW Intelligent Personal Assistant, but Nuance Communications is a likely suspect. BMW’s platform will be activated with the phrase, “Hey BMW,” just as Daimler AG’s A-Class Mercedes cars, which uses Nuance’s Dragon Drive virtual assistant technology, are activated with the phrase, “Hey Mercedes.” And Nuance has previously asserted that BMW is among its many car maker clients using Dragon Drive.

BMW Group says its new virtual assistant will become available to drivers starting in March of next year.