Mercedes-Benz and Google Gemini will help you avoid traffic and bad restaurants.

Mercedes-Benz is incorporating Google Cloud's Automotive AI Agent into its vehicles, starting with the new CLA models. This assistant, enhanced by Google Gemini technology, will provide personalized, real-time support.

The new MBUX, which integrates this artificial intelligence, will allow drivers to interact in a more conversational manner. For instance, when asking for a nearby Italian restaurant, the assistant will not only provide options but can also add specific recommendations about dishes, such as suggesting to avoid the tiramisu because it is a bit soggy.

This Automotive AI Agent is designed to carry out complex conversations and remember the context of past interactions. So, if hours later a driver asks if any of the mentioned restaurants are open, the assistant will recall the previous discussion and respond without starting over. Additionally, thanks to its integration with Google Maps, the assistant can offer real-time traffic updates, nearby points of interest, and alternative routes. For example, if the driver is caught in a traffic jam, the system could suggest a faster way home, avoiding toll roads based on their preferences.

The collaboration between Google and Mercedes aims to make interactions with automotive AI agents smoother, more intuitive, and useful, which could influence car purchasing decisions. This would help prevent situations like having to pull over to search for the nearest gas station or debating who should check the directions.

However, there is a delicate balance between the assistance provided by the assistant and user privacy. While remembering conversations can be beneficial, such as recalling the vegan coffee a colleague wanted to try, there are concerns about what happens when the assistant mentions a visit to McDonald's three weeks ago. The perception of utility versus privacy will be crucial for drivers' full acceptance of this technology.