Qualcomm & Google To Collaborate For Making Automotive AI, Here's What We Know

The new collaboration between Qualcomm and Google will focus on creating a version of Android Automotive OS optimised for Qualcomm chips.

With this partnership, automakers will be able to leverage Google’s AI technology and Qualcomm’s hardware to create custom voice assistants that work independently of a driver’s smartphone.

Source : Qualcomm, Unsplash/Pawel Czerwinski

On Tuesday, Qualcomm announced a partnership with Alphabet’s Google to provide a combination of chips and software that will allow automakers to develop their own AI-powered voice assistants using the technology from both companies. Qualcomm, known for powering mobile devices with Google’s Android operating system, has expanded its focus to the automotive industry. Its chips are now used not only in car dashboards but also in autonomous driving systems utilised by companies like General Motors. 

The new collaboration between Qualcomm and Google will focus on creating a version of Android Automotive OS optimised for Qualcomm chips. Unlike Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, which require a phone connection to display apps in vehicles, Android Automotive OS is built directly into the vehicle’s system.

What Will Come Out Of This Partnership

With this partnership, automakers will be able to leverage Google’s AI technology and Qualcomm’s hardware to create custom voice assistants that work independently of a driver’s smartphone.

Nakul Duggal, group manager for automotive at Qualcomm, while talking about this Qualcomm-Google relationship, said, “Typically, we have operated together, but independently – we plan a lot of things together, but we go to customers separately. We decided we should think about this differently because it will reduce a lot of friction and confusion.”

Qualcomm on Tuesday also introduced two new advanced chips designed to enhance vehicle functionality. The first, named Snapdragon Cockpit Elite, is built to power the digital dashboards of cars, while the second, Snapdragon Ride Elite, is specifically engineered to support autonomous driving features.

Qualcomm announced that Mercedes-Benz Group intends to incorporate the Snapdragon Cockpit Elite chip into its future models, although both companies have yet to disclose details about the specific vehicles or the timeline for its implementation.