Toyota and Google Cloud announced a partnership that brings together Toyota and Lexus’s next-generation audio multimedia systems and Google Cloud’s AI-based speech services.
The partnership aims to improve the in-vehicle infotainment system’s voice recognition. It is something drivers have continuously complained about in the past few years, as per Autonews.
The new partnership results are seen in the latest Toyota Audio Multimedia and Lexus Interface infotainment systems. Including the 2023 Toyota Corolla, Tundra, and Sequoia and the 2023 Lexus NX, RX, and all-electric RZ.
Consumers expect accurate and consistent voice interactions with the growing popularity of voice assistants. The machine learning capabilities required to give high-quality speech results relied on a connection to the cloud, as natural language processing is complex and requires specialized computers.
According to Toyota, vehicles equipped with Toyota’s latest-generation Audio Multimedia and Lexus Interface infotainment systems leverage Google Cloud’s Speech-to-Text service. In order to accurately perform automatic speech recognition in-vehicle queries.
Toyota’s voice assistant leveraged technology from Google Cloud. It was co-developed between the Toyota Motor North America Connected Technologies and Toyota Connected organizations in 2018.
The partnership will help develop Speech On-Device in the future. Toyota’s next-generation system will no longer need an internet connection for natural-speech functions, keeping the system local to the vehicle’s multimedia system processors.
Driving Future Innovation Together
“Today’s announcement represents refinement that comes with years of collaboration between Toyota and Google Cloud to perfect how our technologies work with one another,” said Steve Basra, group vice president of Connected Technologies, Toyota Motor North America, and CEO and president of Toyota Connected North America.
The partnership intends to push future innovations with Speech On-Device in Toyota and Lexus vehicles.
The future vehicle Speech On-Device will enable voice requests to be served directly by vehicles’ multimedia system processors. It will not require internet connectivity to power voice queries in select vehicles. Voice interactions will be administered locally instead of by the cloud. Drivers do not need to worry about a tunnel or dead zone affecting voice commands.
Google’s Speech On-Device Technology
“By working closely with Toyota to understand its in-vehicle device requirements and capabilities, we were able to provide server-like quality while using only a small fraction of the processing power to ensure the best possible experience for drivers,” said Umesh Vemuri, VP, Global Strategic Customers & Industries, Google Cloud.
Speech On-Device builds on change from Google Assistant and Google Pixel. It enables full-featured speech models to run locally on small devices. The new product allows Google Cloud customers to bring high-quality speech services to disconnected environments. It presents new opportunities across various use cases, from cars to televisions and even kiosks.
With Toyota’s next-generation multimedia system in development, the Speech On-Device will be used as a component of the nextgen Toyota Voice Assistant. The release has said the Speech On-Device is available for select Google Cloud customers.
