Nissan wants AI to 'understand' drivers… but do we really need this?

General Discussion Forum
1

Nissan is following BYD by adding DeepSeek tech to its new N7 EV. They claim it will improve how the car understands the driver. But do we actually need AI in cars for this?

2

Why does any car need a chatbot? I get AI for self-driving or spatial awareness, but they’re saying:

DeepSeek’s R1 modeling enables the N7 to better understand the driver’s intent to provide a smoother, more human-machine interaction.

Wouldn’t it be easier to just make the interface simpler? Most people use Android Auto or CarPlay because it’s straightforward. If this AI is just for basic controls like adjusting the radio or AC, how about bringing back buttons?

3

@Dylan
This is just a marketing gimmick.

4

Sawyer said:
@Dylan
This is just a marketing gimmick.

I wouldn’t buy a car that forces me to talk to a chatbot. Sounds like a nightmare.

5

@Dylan
Feels like EV improvements are slowing down, and now they’re just adding random features to see what sticks.

6

@Dylan
DeepSeek and ChatGPT are miles ahead of ‘Okay Google’ or ‘Siri’. AI for voice controls actually makes sense.

7

Freddie said:
@Dylan
DeepSeek and ChatGPT are miles ahead of ‘Okay Google’ or ‘Siri’. AI for voice controls actually makes sense.

Maybe this makes me sound old, but aside from ‘Hey Siri, take me to X’ or ‘Hey Google, text my friend,’ what else do people actually use this for? I asked Siri a question the other day, and instead of answering, she just sent a link to my phone. My wife Googled it faster.

Also, Apple already has ChatGPT in iOS. If they allow it in CarPlay, wouldn’t that make built-in AI pointless?

8

@Dylan
Nissan is saying the AI will learn what you prefer. Like, if you say ‘take me to a gas station,’ some people want the cheapest one, others want the closest one, and someone else wants Shell for loyalty points.

Over time, the AI will just know what you prefer without you having to spell it out every time.

9

@Rowen
Siri’s gotten really good with CarPlay. She can handle way more requests now.

10

@Dylan
Voice assistants struggle with accents, but LLMs might fix that. They can also cut down on background noise so the system understands you better.

It’s not about extra features—just making voice control work properly.

11

@Dylan
I already use Siri to talk to ChatGPT in my car all the time.

12

Freddie said:
@Dylan
DeepSeek and ChatGPT are miles ahead of ‘Okay Google’ or ‘Siri’. AI for voice controls actually makes sense.

Yeah, AI is just replacing the terrible in-car infotainment systems with something that actually works.

13

@Dylan
They should just embrace the Mass Effect theme and call the onboard AI ‘EDI.’

14

@Dylan
CAR, TAKE ME TO WALMART. ALSO, HOW DO YOU SPELL… REINAISS… REIN… RAIN AND SAUCE COMBINED, HOW DO YOU SPELL THAT?

Pretty sure this is what AI in cars will actually be like.

15

Bennett said:
@Dylan
CAR, TAKE ME TO WALMART. ALSO, HOW DO YOU SPELL… REINAISS… REIN… RAIN AND SAUCE COMBINED, HOW DO YOU SPELL THAT?

Pretty sure this is what AI in cars will actually be like.

As someone with dyslexia, I just pray my work doesn’t see my Google history full of misspelled words.

16

@Dylan

  1. So you don’t need to memorize specific commands to do basic things like open the charge door.

  2. So you can ask stuff like ‘Does the downtown Philz serve hot chocolate?’ instead of manually looking it up.