Unlocking Innovation Across the Automotive Ecosystem
By Nakul Duggal, Senior Vice President & General Manager, Automotive & Cloud Computing, Qualcomm Technologies, Inc.
How we experience our vehicles is changing, inside and out. The car is no longer just a means of getting from one place to another, but it’s becoming a new living space for drivers and passengers – offering opportunities to be productive, enjoy infotainment, and travel more safely. Automakers are partnering with technology leaders to reimagine the development process, deliver new and interactive experiences to their customers, and truly drive this evolution forward.
The software-defined vehicle is the foundation for these next-generation capabilities. Vehicles are now computing platforms, powered by scalable and upgradeable cloud-connected hardware and software platforms that are optimized to support vehicle management and services. Artificial intelligence (AI), one of the most exciting innovations we’re experiencing today, is also an essential component.
The future vehicle cockpit is where this and so much more come to life. Whether on the road or while waiting for the vehicle to charge, experiences will be intelligent, multimedia rich, always connected, and equipped with more processing power than ever. The vehicle can get to know its passengers and be engaged by gestures and natural language voice commands.
When equipped with generative AI, a conversational digital assistant can use information from in and around the vehicle to deliver contextually relevant experiences to each occupant and make the modern cockpit easier to operate and even more personalized. For example, integrating calendar information allows the assistant to predict where the driver is headed and proactively suggest the optimal route based on current traffic conditions and reports from other vehicles. The digital assistant can also act as a virtual service advisor that takes predictive maintenance to the next level with a true understanding of what is happening with the vehicle and then make service appointments proactively. Additionally, the driver can ask the assistant while on the commute home to order their family’s favorite dinner, using stored payment information, to be delivered when they arrive.
One of the most important opportunities created by this new generation of software-defined vehicles is the delivery of new cloud-connected digital services. Vehicles are dynamically configurable and can have many identities throughout their lifecycle, which benefits the entire ecosystem. Automakers are innovating rapidly to meet evolving customer preferences and adopt new business models. Consumers can access new functionality at their convenience through over-the-air updates and on-demand services. Fleet providers, such as rideshare services or rental companies, can streamline business operations with live tracking, dispatch, remote diagnostics, and driver scoring.
The auto industry is transforming faster than at any other time in our lives. These technologies are poised to unlock a new wave of innovation for automakers, the transportation industry, enterprises, cities, and more. In fact, these advancements are starting to move beyond the car to 2-wheelers, scooters, and new classes of vehicles. This is an incredibly pivotal time of collaboration between the automotive ecosystem and technology partners who are helping automakers achieve their vision.