Cars are becoming one of the most competitive frontiers in AI, and most people don’t realise how complex it really is.
In this episode, we’re joined by BalaKrishna Kolluru, Senior Director of AI at Cerence, the company powering conversational AI in over 500 million vehicles worldwide. With over 25 years of experience in machine learning and speech recognition, Bala brings deep insights into how generative AI is transforming the in-vehicle experience.
We explore how voice AI in vehicles has evolved from basic command-and-control systems to sophisticated conversational interfaces powered by hybrid cloud-edge architectures. Bala explains how Cerence’s technology serves around 80 car manufacturers globally, and how their agentic AI approach enables seamless integration with external systems while maintaining functionality even without cloud connectivity.
We address the technical challenges of implementing voice AI in vehicles, from microphone placement to processing capabilities, and explain how Cerence collaborates closely with manufacturers to create systems that minimise cognitive load while keeping drivers connected and safe. We also discuss how generative AI has expanded the capabilities of in-car assistants, enabling more natural, contextual interactions that can anticipate user needs.
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Timestamps
00:00 – Intro
02:48 – From academia to advanced speech recognition
05:26 – Democratising AI: leaps and bounds in speech
08:25 – The first wave of in-car voice AI adoption
12:14 – Expanding in-car voice AI with generative capabilities
16:32 – Bridging user expectations from home to car
24:14 – The unseen velocity of AI development
27:50 – Orchestrating agents for seamless in-car experience
33:34 – Cerence’s edge in the in-car AI race
37:39 – Integrating voice AI with vehicle hardware
40:38 – Ensuring voice AI works without connectivity
46:04 – Unlocking deeper interactions with generative AI
51:34 – The unfolding potential of voice AI
Show notes
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