A simple "Hey Audi" from Miriam Wenzl is all it takes to activate the Audi assistant¹ in the Audi Q5. The two words immediately attract the attention of the digital companion in the vehicle. The Audi assistant¹ reacts accordingly to every request – the air conditioning cools a little more, the radio station changes or the navigation system is started. "The Audi assistant¹ makes interacting with the vehicle more intuitive," says Wenzl, who is responsible for Connected Infotainment and, among other things, the Audi assistant¹ at Audi. The combination of vehicle-integrated and cloud-based speech recognition in the Audi connect Navigation & Infotainment package² allows to control the many functions of the vehicle and the infotainment system intuitively. "It's like having a conversation with the car," explains Wenzl.

With the Audi assistant¹, Audi has introduced an enhanced voice control system that actually acts like a personal assistant within its limits. "We have integrated over 800 functions that can be used depending on the vehicle equipment," emphasizes Wenzl. The Audi assistant¹ even differentiates between drivers and passengers and reacts accordingly.

In addition to saying "Hey Audi", the digital assistant can also be activated by pressing a button on the steering wheel. When driving alone in the car, there's another way to do it: "If you say a sentence like 'My feet are cold' out loud, the system feels addressed and automatically directs the heating to the footwell," explains Wenzl. The functions of the Audi assistant¹ range from this comparatively simple activation of the heating to the integration of complex smart services. This allows the system to respond to the recurring needs and habits of drivers. "If the seat heating is repeatedly activated at a certain outside temperature, the Audi assistant¹ automatically suggests setting this up as a routine," explains Wenzl. If desired, a list of the selected call numbers of the connected smartphone is also created based on frequency and time. 

The Audi assistant¹ goes beyond simple commands and acts proactively to unlock the full potential of the vehicle. As Wenzl explains, "Our vehicles are evolving into increasingly powerful mobile devices," with a vast array of features that might not be immediately familiar. The Audi assistant¹ addresses this by identifying potentially unused features and suggesting them to the driver - for example, prompting the driver to explore the benefits of the seat massage function.

In all its actions, the Audi assistant¹ consistently prioritizes safety, both in terms of functionality and data protection. Wenzl illustrates this with a clear example: While the Audi assistant¹ can understand and execute the voice command "Hey Audi, set Drive select to dynamic," it will only do so if the command is issued by the driver. Additionally, visual confirmation of successful command recognition is provided in the Audi virtual cockpit or, depending on the configured equipment, in the head-up display.

The omnipresence of the Audi assistant¹ is characterised by a so-called avatar. ‘The avatar visually represents the different system states of the assistant," explains Wenzl. This visual presence, called "Squircle" and derived from the four rings, creates a sense of closeness, "as if a direct dialogue is always possible. Communication doesn't feel directed into empty space," says Wenzl. The avatar reacts and changes depending on whether the Audi assistant¹ is listening, processing information, or providing a proactive recommendation.

The Audi assistant¹ has access to numerous online contents, including ChatGPT⁴, to ensure that as few questions as possible remain unanswered. Miriam Wenzl emphasizes that the protection of personal data is paramount. "Data protection also includes individual customization options. Drivers can deactivate online speech recognition, thus retaining control over data usage." Vehicle or personal data is never shared with OpenAI outside the VW Group.

In Audi models based on the PPE (Premium Platform Electric) or the PPC (Premium Platform Combustion), like the new Audi Q5, the Audi assistant¹ is included as standard in Audi connect Navigation & Infotainment². The system's functions and capabilities are constantly being further developed. When asked about her personal wish for an upgrade, Miriam Wenzl states, "In the future, drivers will be able to inquire about the vehicle's status, such as tire pressure. The use of Large Language Models, for example from Cerence, makes this and many other use cases possible."