In the future, digital products based on artificial intelligence (AI) will play a key role for the Volkswagen Group. New infotainment and navigation applications, high-performance voice recognition, extended vehicle functions, and deep integration of digital ecosystems into the car will bring significant benefits to customers, enhancing the product experience. For this reason, the Volkswagen Group has created a company specializing in the development of digital products based on artificial intelligence, the AI Lab, which will serve as a competence center and incubator with a global scope, identify new product ideas for the Group and coordinate them internally. If needed, this will also include collaboration with the tech sector in Europe, China and North America. With this approach, the Volkswagen Group intends to simplify collaboration with technology companies in order to make the most of the innovative potential and speed of the AI industry. The goal is to quickly develop digital prototypes and transfer them to the Group’s brands for implementation. “We want to offer our customers real added value through artificial intelligence. We aim to connect the external digital ecosystems with the vehicle, creating an even better product experience,” Oliver Blume, CEO of the Volkswagen Group and Porsche AG, said in a statement. Partnering with tech companies is of paramount importance to us. In the future, we will make cooperation even easier in terms of organization and culture.” The Volkswagen Group intends to bring AI-based products to the vehicle and its ecosystem by committing to continuously integrating new AI-based digital products into its vehicles and offering customers added value that goes beyond the car. Among other things, the Group sees considerable potential in high-performance voice recognition and services that connect users’ digital environments with the vehicle. Equally important will be extended functions, such as AI-optimised electric charging cycles, predictive maintenance and networking of vehicles with infrastructure, such as customer homes through smart home applications.
Solutions for all the Group’s brands
The AI Lab, which will identify product ideas and quickly produce prototypes, will not produce series models, but will serve as an incubator for the Volkswagen Group. The company will identify new AI-related product ideas around the world and then develop the most promising concepts together with partners, if necessary, to produce the first prototypes. The AI Lab will have a team of AI experts and will work closely with all brands. The Supervisory Board will be made up of high-level representatives of the Volkswagen Group’s brand groups. The streamlined and structured organization of the AI Lab and the direct involvement of brand groups on the Supervisory Board will enable equal communication in the vibrant AI sector, speeding up processes and simplifying collaboration between the automotive industry and tech companies. “With the AI Lab, we combine technological expertise, flexibility and, above all, speed in cooperation with external partners: this will be crucial in a highly dynamic industry such as AI,” says Michael Steiner, Head of Research and Development at the Volkswagen Group and Member of the Executive Board of Porsche AG with responsibility for Research and Development. We will bring promising projects to market, together with partners if necessary, regardless of existing agreements and other relationships related to series production.” Exploratory talks on the first initiatives with international tech companies are already underway. A high-profile team for the new AI Lab Within the AI Lab Board of Directors, Carsten Helbing will be CEO and Carmen Schmidt CLO & CBO. Recognized AI experts will be responsible for the technical management functions. The Supervisory Board will consist of members of the boards of directors of the Volkswagen, Audi and Porsche brands. (Photo by Obi – @pixel8propix on Unsplash)
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