In a recent joint announcement, Toyota and Google Cloud revealed their expanded partnership that will integrate Google Cloud’s AI-based speech services with the next generation Toyota and Lexus audio systems. With voice assistants becoming increasingly popular in today’s world, the standard for these AI systems is continually rising. This partnership between Google Cloud and Toyota will let consumers experience one of the most powerful AI voice assistants currently in existence. The science and technology needed to make this happen is considerable and we have touched on the most important aspects of it below.

A Collaboration Based on Innovation

The primary goal behind this partnership is aimed at the future, wherein new innovations will lead to an AI voice assistant for automobiles that will feature a “Speech On-Device.” This device is a new AI product from Google Cloud that will provision all implanted devices with the same AI-based speech recognition and amalgam that is available in the cloud despite the status of Internet connectivity. This feature will be vehicle-native, and will be seen in upcoming Toyota and Lexus vehicles. The Speech On-Device will allow voice instructions to be delivered straight to the multimedia system processors without requiring a connection to the Internet. This means that drivers who are in dead zones, underground, or in tunnels will no longer need to worry about their voice commands being affected.

“Today’s announcement represents refinement that comes with years of collaboration between Toyota and Google Cloud to perfect how our technologies work with one another.”

– Steve Basra, group vice president, Connected Technologies, Toyota Motor North America, and CEO and president of Toyota Connected North America.

The Technology Beneath It All

The innovations from Google Pixel and Google Assistant were built upon for the creation of the Speech On-Device. Both Google Pixel and Google Assistant have speech models that are able to function locally on small devices while utilizing only a small portion of the computing requirements. Speech On-Device will make it possible for any Google Cloud customer to use the high-quality speech services even when in areas that are completely disconnected from the Internet. Toyota’s upcoming next-gen multimedia system is already in development, and the Speech On-Device (vehicle embedded) will be a primary piece of the new Toyota Voice Assistant.

Toyota vehicles that are equipped with the current generation of Linux-based Audio Multimedia and Lexus Interface infotainment systems are already utilizing Google Cloud’s Speech-to-Text services in order to ensure accurate automatic speech recognition during in-vehicle commands and inquiries. Toyota’s Voice Assistant was developed in collaboration between the Toyota Connected and the Toyota Motor North America Connected Technologies, and is responsible for the machine learning and AI advancements that are now functioning in the current Toyota and Lexus infotainment systems.

What This Means for Long Island Drivers

In the past, the in-vehicle voice recognition system has not been without its flaws and drivers have been quite vocal with their complaints. Proving that Toyota has both heard and acknowledged those complaints, the development of the Speech On-Device is another measure of Toyota’s commitment to consumers. With the implementation of the Speech On-Device in future Toyota and Lexus vehicles, Long Island Toyota owners will be able to rest easy knowing that no matter where they are, they will be able to interact with their vehicle’s AI voice assistant regardless of Internet connectivity status. This innovation between Google Cloud and Toyota is just another exciting advancement among many for Toyota, and we here at Westbury Toyota eagerly await to see just how impressively the Speech On-Device, when paired with Toyota’s next gen multimedia system, will perform.

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