Nearly 80% of US motorists want AI voice assistants

Motorists are increasingly embracing AI voice assistants in their vehicles, with 76% expressing interest in using them while driving.

According to an independent survey commissioned by SoundHound, there’s been a 52% year-over-year increase in driver interest for advanced voice assistant features. This enthusiasm is particularly pronounced among younger demographics, with 84% of drivers aged 21-34 and 82% of those aged 35-44 expressing interest.

Whilst 76% of surveyed drivers currently have access to in-vehicle voice assistants – with 86% using them weekly – traditional functionality has largely been limited to basic controls, navigation, and telephone calls. However, the research indicates drivers are ready for more sophisticated AI-powered capabilities.

Perhaps most notably, 81% of respondents planning to purchase or lease a vehicle within the next year indicated they would prioritise one equipped with AI features. Furthermore, 74% expressed willingness to either pay a fee or accept advertisements in exchange for access to these advanced features.

Use cases for in-vehicle AI voice assistants

The study highlighted several potential use cases for in-vehicle AI voice assistants.

71% of respondents showed interest in AI-powered food ordering capabilities, allowing drivers to place orders along their route for collection upon arrival.

Even more impressive was the 85% interest in vehicle management features, enabling drivers to better understand dashboard alerts, schedule maintenance, and access manual information through natural conversation.

The research also revealed that nearly 40% of US drivers find current car features overly complex, with half reporting difficulties with common applications such as GPS navigation. To address these challenges, 76% expressed interest in enhanced communication features, including AI-powered call handling and text message summarisation.

Mike Zagorsek, COO and Automotive lead at SoundHound, commented: “This survey data is consistent with what we’ve been seeing from real drivers using voice generative AI out on the road. Over the last 12 months of deployment, it’s become clear that those early users really see the value.

“In some cases, we’ve seen voice assistant usage increasing five-fold compared to a traditional vehicle voice assistant. This tells us that AI-powered technology is making a significant impact and is here to stay.”

See also: Jacksonville will leverage T-Mobile’s 5G for autonomous public transport

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Tags: ai, artificial intelligence, connected car, connected vehicle, mobility, transport, voice assistant