AI Lab: Volkswagen Group Establishes Artificial Intelligence Company
AI Lab: Volkswagen Group Establishes Artificial Intelligence Company: The Volkswagen Group is excited to announce the establishment of AI Lab, a company specializing in the development of digital products based on artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance the customer experience within its vehicles. AI Lab will serve as a competence center and project incubator for Volkswagen, identifying new AI-related product ideas and coordinating their internal development within the group. Additionally, the company envisions close collaboration with technology firms to rapidly prototype digital innovations.
Oliver Blume, CEO of the Volkswagen Group and Porsche AG, clearly expresses the company's ambition: to deliver genuine added value to its customers through AI.
With this vision in mind, Volkswagen aims to consistently introduce new AI-powered digital products into its vehicles, extending beyond simple navigation or infotainment. High-performance voice recognition, connectivity services, and advanced vehicle functions will become key differentiation elements for the company.
Volkswagen is also exploring applications such as optimized charging cycles for electric vehicles, predictive maintenance, and integration with the smart home infrastructures of its customers.
Having recently integrated ChatGPT into its voice assistant IDA through a technological partnership with Cerence, a provider of AI-based mobility solutions, the group intends to leverage collaborations with other industry players in Europe, China, and North America to fully exploit the innovation potential and agility of the AI sector.
Oliver Blume states:
"Our goal is to connect external digital ecosystems to the vehicle, creating an even better product experience. Collaboration with technology companies is of crucial importance to us. In the future, we intend to simplify organizational and cultural cooperation."
AI Lab will not handle the manufacturing of production models but will focus on creating innovative digital prototypes, which will then be handed over to the group's brands for implementation.
To achieve its objectives, the Volkswagen Group has enlisted AI experts for the technical management of the new company, working closely with all brands within the group. Members of the boards of directors from Volkswagen, Audi, and Porsche will form the Supervisory Board.
Michael Steiner, Head of Research and Development for the Volkswagen Group and board member of Porsche AG, concludes:
"With our new 'AI Lab,' we combine technological expertise, flexibility, and speed in collaboration with external partners. This will be crucial in the highly dynamic field of AI. We will pursue very promising initiatives in the market, collaborating with partners if necessary, regardless of existing agreements and other ties in series production."