BMW has decided that Amazon's Alexa will be the foundation for its next-gen voice assistant. This would continue their partnership which started in 2018.
BMW Partners with Amazon for Development of Its Voice Assistant
According to the story by Tech Crunch, the companies announced the partnership at the annual Devices and Services launch event by Amazon. The first time that the companies worked together was in 2018 when BMW decided to offer Alexa assistance in certain cars.
The announcement stands out since BMW will not just insert Alexa into its vehicles, instead, they will be using Amazon technology in order for its own assistant to be built. The very first vehicles expected to launch with the new voice assistant are expected to launch later on within the next two years.
BMW Senior VP of Connected Company and Development Technical Operations Gives Statement
Should the idea be executed well, BMW will have access to tech by Amazon which would allow it to focus on being able to create features specifically designed for automotive uses. Stephan Durach, BMW Group's senior VP of connected company and development technical operations, gave his comments regarding the decision.
Durach noted that the approach will help them be able to bring the digital experience "to an entirely new level." The move also shows how Amazon is now trying to capture a larger market share, especially within the automotive industry.
Amazon Says This is an Example of What Alexa Custom Assistant was Designed for
Amazon's move into the automotive industry was hinted at in remarks made by the senior VP of devices and services at Amazon, Dave Limp. As per Limp, the cooperation along with BMW is what he described as a "great example of what Alexa Custom Assistant was designed for" as noted by BMW.
Limp then shared how the Alexa Custom Assistant was designed to help make developing custom intelligent assistants for companies much easier and faster. This also helps with the cost as well as the complexity of having to build the systems from the ground up.
Read Also: Tesla EV Deliveries Expected To Be on 'Very High Volume' For the Remainder of Q3 2022
Amazon to Introduce Second-Gen Echo Auto for Automotives
This means that Amazon is looking at its next step as one that enters and tries to dominate the car experience. The company will also be introducing the Echo Auto second-gen which is expected to be a more compact device with new features.
The new features of the Echo Auto second-gen aim to help broaden the reach of the e-commerce giant by "bringing its Alexa voice assistant into more vehicles." Buyers will also be given a choice of either using just the BMW voice assistant or the Alexa.
Another choice that users can choose from is to have both the BMW voice assistant and Amazon's Alexa running at the same time. This could provide the automotive with more choices and features with support from both.
Related Article: This Pair of 'Cartoonish' Eyes Attached to Self-Driving Vehicle Prioritizes Pedestrian Safety on the Roads, Researchers Say
This article is owned by Tech Times
Written by Urian B.
