Starting tomorrow, your Volkswagen may want to talk to you.
Earlier this year, VW announced plans to bring conversation to its IDA in-car virtual assistant with the help of ChatGPT. The feature will begin rolling out to cars as a download.
“Starting September 6, 2024, this will be live first in 2025 Jetta and Jetta GLI models, along with [model year 2024] ID.4 vehicles equipped with an 82-kWh battery,” the company says. ID.4 models with smaller batteries will get it later this year.
Using the feature will require a subscription to the Plus Speech with AI feature in Volkswagen’s Car-Net connected services program.
Complain About the Temperature, Ask for Dinner Recommendations
Owners can engage it by saying either “Hello, Volkswagen” or “Hello, IDA.” That system has always been able to control temperature, set navigation destinations, and perform other simple functions. With the upgrade, VW says, it can answer general knowledge questions or perform its old functions based on more conversational commands.
VW explains, “Previously, passengers could ask, ‘Hey, IDA, can you please set the temperature at 70 degrees?'” Now, they’ll be able to say, “Hey, IDA, I’m chilly,” and the system will adjust the cabin temperature.
It can also “handle complex, conversational questions beyond standard automotive functions — such as suggesting restaurants, road trip destinations, or creating stories to entertain those in the car — transforming the driving experience into a truly hands-free journey,” Volkswagen says.
It does not have access to vehicle data, the company says. With privacy a growing concern for drivers, VW notes, “All session contextual data is deleted immediately to ensure maximum data protection.”
Coming to Most of the Lineup in 2025
VW says ChatGPT-enabled IDA will roll out to most of its vehicles for the 2025 model year, though the Atlas and Atlas Cross Sport will get it in 2026. “The ID.4 and ID. Buzz come with three years of Plus Speech with AI included at no additional cost, while the GTI, Golf R, and Tiguan will have one year included with vehicle purchase.” Buyers of other models will have the option to subscribe for a fee.
