December 15, 2022 3 Ways Hybrid Connectivity Improves Voice Tech for Auto

Improved connectivity options are revolutionizing in-vehicle voice experiences and driving consumer preference.

By Matt Anderson, Director of Business Development for Automotive, SoundHound

Our idea of the car and the role it plays is evolving. Drivers aren’t just looking for mechanical reliability, they’re demanding better driving experiences. They’re craving vehicles that provide access to everything from entertainment and functionality to restaurant ordering and smart home device control.

According to Voicebot.ai, 50% of car buyers in the U.S. view voice technology as part of their buying criteria, proving that consumers are actively seeking out hands-free interactions when they’re behind the wheel.

Long gone are the days of command and control, as voice AI solutions that are faster, more accurate, responsive, and conversational usher in the future of automotive experiences.

However, there are many challenges that auto manufacturers face when developing voice assistants. There’s local data storage and processing to consider, along with CPU footprints, user privacy, internet access, and more. For many auto OEMs, a versatile connectivity solution helps them navigate these obstacles and produce a voice assistant that surpasses their users’ needs.

Hybrid connectivity gives brands and users the best of both worlds—edge processing power with cloud connectivity. This solution is revolutionizing the automotive industry by offering faster processing, greater accuracy, and consistent, reliable responses. Voice assistants that use hybrid connectivity can offer an always-on, conversational intelligence solution that works even when the cloud is not available.

Dive into 3 ways hybrid is transforming the automotive industry:

1. Active arbitration

With a hybrid connectivity solution, voice assistants can instantly source data from embedded voice functions and information from the cloud—meaning drivers’ queries are simultaneously sent to the data sets on the edge and in the cloud, producing quicker results and reducing user frustration. They deliver a seamless response regardless of the data source, with drivers and passengers benefiting from a cohesive and optimized voice experience.

With high performance also comes a lower CPU footprint, which is a key consideration for many auto OEMs trying to fit voice capabilities into their existing hardware structure.

2. Always-on capability

When users have cloud-only connectivity for their voice assistants, they can lose access when the cloud is not available. For example, traveling from place-to-place means that drivers may go into a tunnel or drive into the mountains where Internet service is not available. By having hybrid connectivity, drivers and passengers will still have access to embedded features with high responsiveness and functionality, and critical navigation, even when the cloud is not available.

With edge solutions, drivers and passengers can usually perform a variety of in-car operations, including rolling up and down the windows, adjusting the temperature, controlling the radio, turning on or off seat warmers, and more, just by using their voice. Then, as easily and quickly, drivers can get all the information they need from the cloud without the latency associated with some legacy solutions.

3. Connect drivers to smart ecosystems

Hybrid solutions also connect drivers to a wide expanse of smart ecosystems that make their lives more efficient and convenient. Drivers and passengers will have access to navigation, local search, parking, and charging and fuel stations.

As we move toward a world of connected cars, access to all the ecosystems will become essential. In-car voice AI technology has the power to connect drivers to their smart home devices to perform such functions as adjusting their home’s thermostat, preheating the oven, or opening the garage door from inside the car.

Hybrid technology is creating a new wave of in-vehicle experiences with conversational intelligence that by far surpasses early iterations of voice technology. It creates the optimal conditions for the kind of enjoyable, safe, and convenient experience that consumers will soon come to expect.

Matt Anderson is an experienced business development executive specializing in automotive. At SoundHound he assists OEMs looking to enhance the customer experience with in-vehicle voice AI.

https://www.soundhound.com/

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