Google has partnered with Volkswagen to provide key artificial intelligence capabilities for a new in-app assistant designed to assist drivers. The AI-powered assistant, available through a smartphone app, allows users to ask questions or point their cameras at vehicle dashboards for immediate, relevant information.

The assistant uses Google’s Gemini large language models, which are capable of processing and generating predictive responses based on human language. The tool was developed by incorporating Volkswagen manuals and YouTube videos related to vehicle maintenance into the AI’s database.

Google Cloud CEO Thomas Kurian highlighted the complexity of the project, explaining that it goes beyond simple speech-to-text translation. The AI’s multimodal capabilities, which process text, images, and videos, were essential to its development.

Currently available to around 120,000 Volkswagen Atlas and Atlas Cross Sport owners, the assistant will roll out to more models by next year. Google aims to expand its enterprise AI solutions through ventures like this, particularly as cloud computing continues to grow as a key segment of its business.