Volkswagen-Drives-into-the-Future-with-New-AI-Lab

Volkswagen's new AI Lab will generate digital products based on AI for the Volkswagen Group

Volkswagen, the world's largest carmaker, has announced the establishment of a new artificial intelligence (AI) lab to generate new product ideas and collaborate with tech companies across the globe. The new AI lab will act as a competence center and incubator for the Volkswagen Group and will focus on developing digital prototypes for products and features using AI.

The new AI lab will not be part of Volkswagen's software unit Cariad, which has been struggling with delays and overhauls, but will operate independently and report directly to the Volkswagen Group CEO Oliver Blume. The lab will have a supervisory board that will include representatives from Volkswagen, Audi, and Porsche. The lab will also have a global network of partners and collaborators, including tech companies in Europe, China, and North America.

The new AI lab will aim to identify new product ideas that relate to AI and coordinate them internally within the Volkswagen Group. The lab will also develop early-stage prototypes in collaboration with external partners and transfer them to the Group brands for implementation. The lab will not manufacture production models but will serve as an incubator for the Volkswagen Group.

The new AI lab will focus on four main areas of AI applications: infotainment and navigation, voice recognition, extended vehicle functions, and digital ecosystems. The lab will explore how AI can enhance the product experience and customer value in these areas, such as by linking external digital ecosystems with the vehicle, creating AI-optimized charging cycles for electric vehicles, or improving voice chat in PC games.

The new AI lab is part of Volkswagen's preparedness framework, which seeks to develop improved methods for assessing AI-enabled safety risks. The lab will also act as a potential "tripwire" that signals the need for caution and further testing of the misuse potential of AI. For instance, the lab will evaluate the risk that a large language model (LLM), such as GPT-4, could aid someone in creating a biological threat.

We aspire to provide our customers with additional value through artificial intelligence. Blume stated that the goal is to integrate external digital ecosystems with the automobile, resulting in an even greater product experience. Collaboration with technological businesses is critical for us. In the future, we plan to simplify organizational and cultural collaboration.

Volkswagen is not the only carmaker that is investing in AI. Several other car giants, such as Toyota, Ford, and Hyundai, are also pushing heavily into AI to boost their technology credentials and make their cars smarter. AI is expected to play a key role in the future of mobility, as it enables new features and services, such as autonomous driving, personalized marketing, and predictive maintenance.

Volkswagen's new AI lab is expected to launch soon, but the exact date is not yet announced. The lab will be based in Wolfsburg, Germany, where the Volkswagen Group headquarters are located. The lab will also have offices in Berlin, Munich, and Palo Alto. The lab will initially have a team of 20 experts but will expand to 100 in the next two years.

Volkswagen's new AI lab is a bold and ambitious move that shows the carmaker's commitment and vision to embrace the emerging technology. The lab will also provide a platform for innovation and collaboration, both within and outside the Volkswagen Group. The lab will also help Volkswagen to prepare for the potential and peril of AI, and to shape the future of mobility.