Top Automaker Selects Cerence to Power New, Enhanced Intelligent Personal Assistant

BURLINGTON, Mass., Sept. 07, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Cerence Inc. (NASDAQ: CRNC), AI for a world in motion, today announced that BMW Group has selected Cerence to create a new voice and AI-powered virtual assistant in the latest version of the BMW Intelligent Personal Assistant (IPA). These new capabilities are expected to be available first in the all-new BMW 7 Series and BMW i7 models.

“BMW’s Intelligent Personal Assistant is an incredible example of just how important AI and voice can be for the driving experience – natural, intuitive, effortless,” said Stefan Ortmanns, CEO, Cerence. “We are delighted to partner with BMW Group again on a cutting-edge virtual assistant that even further expands its longstanding track record of defining a unique and exhilarating experience for anyone behind the wheel of a BMW.”

Designed with drivers’ needs in mind, BMW IPA serves as the central operating channel of the human-machine interface and is central to BMW’s in-cabin experience. In the latest generation of BMW IPA, Cerence delivers enhanced natural language understanding that makes it easier than ever for BMW drivers and passengers to operate various in-car functions and complete tasks by using their voice. For example, drivers can say “I want to see the sky” to open the sunroof or “Find a high power charge.” Extending the 7 Series’ in-car assistant capabilities, Cerence’s industry-leading technologies also now enable BMW drivers to activate Apple’s Siri using only their voice – without pressing the push-to-talk button – creating a more streamlined experience for drivers using CarPlay.

Further adding to the experience is a new feature that enables BMW drivers to get the most out of BMW IPA. As drivers use the system and it gains knowledge about their preferences, BMW IPA can now serve spoken prompts about specific functions that drivers may want to know about, maximizing their safety, productivity and comfort on the road. BMW drivers in China will also benefit from increased functionality as BMW IPA now offers voice-powered control of key WeChat features like sending a message or making a voice call.

The latest version of BMW IPA also features enhanced audio AI capabilities powered by Cerence, including rear-passenger speech signal enhancement and passenger interference cancelation. Integrated with the 7 Series four-microphone array, these new capabilities enable all occupants to have a personalized experience in which they can speak directly to BMW IPA to meet their needs.

To learn more about Cerence, visit www.cerence.com, and follow the company on LinkedIn and Twitter.

About Cerence Inc.
Cerence (NASDAQ: CRNC) is the global industry leader in creating unique, moving experiences for the mobility world. As an innovation partner to the world’s leading automakers and mobility OEMs, it is helping advance the future of connected mobility through intuitive, powerful interaction between humans and their vehicles, connecting consumers’ digital lives to their daily journeys no matter where they are. Cerence’s track record is built on more than 20 years of knowledge and more than 450 million cars shipped with Cerence technology. Whether it’s connected cars, autonomous driving, e-vehicles, or two-wheelers, Cerence is mapping the road ahead. For more information, visit www.cerence.com.

Kate Hickman | Tel: 339-215-4583 | Email: kate.hickman@cerence.com

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/e01cf828-6c8d-4d1b-bbc8-cc46bd8a7b3d