- BMW’s iX3 gains an advanced Alexa-powered voice assistant.
- New AI lets drivers speak naturally, no commands required.
- Follow-up questions and general topics are now supported.
Whether you’re ready for it or not, today’s cars are no longer just machines for getting from A to B. They’ve grown into rolling platforms of technology, smarter and more connected than ever. This year, BMW is leaning into that transformation with one of its most significant launches, a new AI assistant powered by Amazon’s Alexa+ architecture, debuting in the new iX3.
Read: BMW iX3 Beats Its Official Range By Over 120 Miles In Real-World Test
BMW has confirmed that the second-generation iX3 will receive an updated version of the BMW Intelligent Personal Assistant. Set to arrive in both Germany and the US later this year, the new system promises to turn the iX3 into what the company describes as “an intelligent companion” on the road.
How Will It Work in Real Life?
In-car voice assistants are nothing new, but BMW’s updated system is quite intriguing. No longer will users need to interact with the system using predefined voice commands, and instead, requests and queries can be linked together just like they would in a normal human conversation.
Additionally, users can easily ask follow-up questions about the vehicle’s features and a slew of general knowledge topics.
At the heart of this new capability is a generative AI model that interprets and responds using its own language formulation. The system will be on display at this month’s Consumer Electronics Show (CES), giving early attendees a chance to try it out before its wider release in the second half of the year.
Amazon Integration and Expanded Access
BMW has also made it possible to connect the system with a user’s Amazon account. That opens the door to a wider range of content and services, including streaming music and live news updates, all accessible directly from the car’s voice interface.
“Our partnership with Amazon is based on a shared vision of technological excellence,” BMW Group’s senior vice president of development Digital Services, Stephan Durach said.
“This has resulted in a product that sets new standards in the naturalness of human-vehicle interaction through the use of artificial intelligence. With the addition of Amazon’s Alexa+ technology to the BMW Intelligent Personal Assistant, the vehicle becomes an intelligent companion for its users.”
