“Voice Assist can already fulfill more than 100 different voice commands, a number that will grow with future software updates.”

Nuance Automotive is providing speech recognition tech for the MG Hector, India’s first internet-enabled smart car. Released by MG Motor, the new car features MG’s iSMART Next Gen platform, which was in turn built using Nuance’s conversational AI mobility assistant.

The upshot is that the new Voice Assist feature will allow drivers to keep their hands on the wheel as they adjust air conditioning, windows, and other automotive systems using simple vocal commands. Nuance developed Voice Assist specifically for the Indian market, which means the platform will be able to recognize strong Indian accents. 

“The MG Hector is the first of its kind in India and will be one of the leaders in a new era of connected cars across the globe,” said Rajeev Chaba, the President and Managing Director of MG Motor India.

Voice Assist can already fulfill more than 100 different voice commands, a number that will grow with future software updates. The platform uses both embedded and cloud-based content to ensure that the voice interaction features will still work in remote areas with poor wireless coverage. 

The new partnership underscores the importance of the automotive division for Nuance’s portfolio. The company has previously developed car-focused AI solutions for Mercedes-Benz and the Korean market, and recently formed a new AI research lab in Germany to develop new smart car technologies.