What Can Car Voice Assistants Do?

3 min read

Modern voice assistants in cars serve a variety of roles:

Hands-Free Controls: The basics are still there – you can place phone calls, send text messages, play music, set navigation destinations, adjust climate… all by voice[38][127]. The big difference is it feels more natural: “Text Mom, I’m running late” will actually send that exact message[38], instead of you having to recite it word by word with confirmations for each. “Call Dad” finds Dad in your contacts and dials. “Play rock music” shuffles your rock playlist. You get to keep your hands on the wheel and eyes on the road, which is a major safety benefit.
Information and Q&A: AI voice systems can answer general questions or provide info. You could ask, “Hey Google, what’s the weather at my destination?” or “Hey Mercedes, how much range do I have left?” In the Mercedes ChatGPT trial, people even asked for cooking recipes or trivia answers while on the road[54]. Voice assistants basically turn your car into a moving smart speaker. Some are tied to specific data (e.g., “Hey Nissan, what does this warning light mean?”) – an AI could explain car features or diagnostics.
Vehicle Functions: Increasingly, voice assistants integrate with car functions. “I’m cold” can trigger the car to increase temperature or turn on seat heaters[35]. “Open the sunroof” or “Tune to 90.7 FM” are understood commands in many systems. This reduces fiddling with buttons or menus. As cars get more complex (some have 50+ buttons or deep touchscreen menus), voice offers a simpler way to get something done. Ford’s new “OK Ford” assistant can even change drive modes or other settings via voice.
Navigation Assistance: Beyond just setting destinations, voice assistants can help with navigation adjustments. If you’re en route and say “Find parking near me” or “Where’s the nearest gas station?”, the assistant can search and direct you[37]. Some systems allow more complex queries like “How far is it to the Grand Canyon?” or “Show me Italian restaurants on the way home.”
Personal Productivity: In-car assistants can interface with your calendar (“What’s my first meeting today?”) and even allow you to join conference calls hands-free. They can take voice memos (“Hey BMW, note that I need to pick up laundry tomorrow”).
Entertainment & Companionship: Here’s where AI is starting to shine. You could say “I’m bored” and a smart assistant might crack a joke or initiate a game. There are voice trivia games or the assistant can tell you a story (imagine a long road trip and the assistant narrates an audiobook-like story upon request). With advanced AI like ChatGPT, theoretically you could have a casual conversation: “Tell me a fun fact about the city I’m driving through” or “What are some good podcasts for a road trip?” and get thoughtful answers.

One interesting example: Mercedes’ AI will not just obey, but also advise. In one demo, when asked if adaptive cruise control is on during rain, the car responded with reassurance and even a safety nudge (“Yes, it’s on, but keep your hands on the wheel”)[128]. This shows the assistant isn’t just passive; it actively encourages safe behavior.