Majority of Car Drivers Reportedly Use AI Voice Assistants, with 80% Estimated Frequency
In a groundbreaking development, voice assistants are set to revolutionise the automotive industry, offering a wide range of functionalities that promise to enhance driver safety, improve user experience, and streamline vehicle-related operations.
New research reveals that U.S. drivers are ready for supercharged assistants with AI-powered capabilities. In fact, 81% of U.S. car owners planning to purchase or lease a car in the next 12 months would choose a car with AI features over one without. This shift is further highlighted by the 76% of U.S. drivers surveyed who are likely to use voice generative AI capabilities in their car, representing a 52% increase from last year.
SoundHound, a leading company in voice generative AI technology, commissioned a new survey from Big Village to unlock new use cases for this technology. The survey found that 86% of voice assistant users use their in-vehicle voice assistant weekly.
One of the most popular and upcoming uses for voice generative AI in vehicles in 2025 focuses on hands-free control of in-vehicle systems, such as navigation, media, climate control, and smart device integration. This reduction in driver distraction and improvement in safety is a significant step forward.
Moreover, AI-powered customer and sales support in automotive businesses is another key application. Automated lead qualification, appointment scheduling, consistent follow-ups, and CRM integration in dealership business development centres (BDC) are all benefits that AI can bring to the table.
Advanced voice assistants integrated with AI models like ChatGPT are also set to deliver more user-friendly experiences. Major automakers like Volkswagen have already adopted this technology in their 2025 models.
Real-time vehicle diagnostics and alerts via voice AI are also set to enhance situational awareness. By accessing onboard sensors, voice AI can notify drivers about maintenance issues or safety threats such as emergency vehicles nearby.
Enhanced remote voice communication quality and speech recognition are also being developed to ensure clear, distraction-free conversation during calls made from vehicles. No-touch, app-free natural interaction modes are also being leveraged to enable intuitive control without physical interfaces.
Integration with advanced audio AI technologies is also set to improve voice clarity and recognition in noisy vehicle environments, providing reliable voice assistant performance and passenger comfort.
Interestingly, 71% of U.S. drivers are interested in an in-vehicle food ordering AI feature. Until now, the use cases for in-vehicle voice assistants have been relatively contained to in-vehicle controls, navigation, and calls.
The assistant is now in production with multiple automakers globally in multiple languages. With these advancements, voice generative AI in vehicles is rapidly evolving beyond basic voice commands to sophisticated agentic AI systems that support seamless, safe, and personalised driving experiences while also transforming automotive sales and service operations.
74% of all U.S. respondents said they would be willing to pay a fee or be served ads to access voice generative AI in their car. SoundHound AI was the first to launch a vehicle assistant with generative AI capabilities, processing multiple millions of queries in the last 12 months.
Overall, the future of driving is set to be transformed by voice generative AI, offering a safer, more convenient, and more personalised driving experience for all.
[1] Source: Voicebot.ai [2] Source: Voicebot.ai [3] Source: TechCrunch [4] Source: AutoDeal [5] Source: Voicebot.ai
Artificial-intelligence integrated voice assistants are increasingly becoming a desired feature for U.S. car buyers, with 81% planning to purchase a car with AI features in the next year. (From the first sentence of the text)
In 2025, one of the most popular uses for voice generative AI in vehicles is expected to be hands-free control of in-vehicle systems, promising a safer and more convenient driving experience. (From the seventh sentence)
