Fresh VWs will answer some of your questions via ChatGPT

Volkswagen has announced is introducing an improved in-car AI voice assistant, IDA, with responses processed locally and in the cloud from ChatGPT and other models, starting September 6. The first cars to get the feature will be the 2025 Jetta and Jetta GLI and the 82kWh version of the ID.4 from 2024, with other cars getting it later this year.

Drivers of cars that support ChatGPT will need to subscribe to VW’s Plus Speech with AI service to get it. The company says that most of its 2025 models will get the fresh AI voice assistant features in the future, including the ID.4 and ID Buzz (both will get the feature for free for three years) and the GTI, Golf R and Tiguan (free for a year). Jetta, Jetta GLI and Taos owners will need to purchase the subscription themselves. Volkswagen says the Atlas and Atlas Cross Sport models won’t get ChatGPT until 2026.

The company previously announced its plan to integrate ChatGPT at CES in January. At the time, it wasn’t clear how it would all work. Volkswagen says the OpenAI chatbot, along with a “plenty” of other models, is being supplied by automotive chatbot company Cerence, which will take over IDA duties when requests are more convoluted than changing climate settings. For example, the company says that when drivers ask for things like restaurant recommendations or for the chatbot to tell a story, that data will be sent to the cloud.

IDA can locally process natural-language requests for certain things, Volkswagen says. Tell it you’re “cold,” and it should know you want the heater on. (We hope it doesn’t occasionally hand that over to ChatGPT to tell you about nearby Chili’s restaurants.)