Qualcomm, Google Join Forces for AI-Driven Cars, Mercedes-Benz to Supercharge Future Models

Qualcomm and Google are revolutionizing the automotive industry with a new AI-powered platform that lets automakers develop custom voice assistants. Mercedes-Benz will incorporate Qualcomm’s Snapdragon Elite chips in upcoming models, elevating the driving experience.

Qualcomm and Google to Power AI Voice Assistants in Cars

In a joint announcement made public on Tuesday, Qualcomm and Alphabet Google will provide a suite of products that will enable car manufacturers to create artificial intelligence voice assistants in-house.

Qualcomm has branched out into the automotive industry, producing processors that can power both the dashboard and autonomous driving systems utilized by GM and other companies. These chips have long-powered mobile phones that use Google's Android operating system.

According to Reuters, Qualcomm said on Tuesday that it is collaborating with Google to optimize Android Automotive OS for Qualcomm hardware.

Qualcomm's Expansion into the Automotive Sector

While most people are aware of Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, which allow drivers to access their phones' applications through the car's touchscreen, Google's Android Automotive OS is an offering that manufacturers utilize to power the computer systems in their vehicles.

Per Investing.com, the combined offering from Qualcomm and Google will allow automakers to utilize Google's AI technology to develop brand-specific voice assistants that can function independently of a driver's phone, according to Qualcomm and Google.

"Typically, we have operated together, but independently - we plan a lot of things together, but we go to customers separately," explained Nakul Duggal, group manager for automotive at Qualcomm, regarding the partnership between the two companies. "We decided we should think about this differently because it will reduce a lot of friction and confusion."

Qualcomm and Google Launch New Snapdragon Chips

Two new Snapdragon processors, the Cockpit Elite for dashboards and the Ride Elite for autonomous driving capabilities, were introduced by Qualcomm on Tuesday. The two businesses did not reveal when or which vehicles will have the Snapdragon Elite Cockpit chip, but the company did state that Mercedes-Benz Group intends to employ it in future vehicles.