BMW Intelligent Personal Assistant: Hey BMW

A at the IAA in September 2001, the visitors were interested in the BMW -Stand as big as the amazement. With the new seven (E65 series) presented there, the Munich-based company presented the iDrive operating concept for the first time in a production car. Two years earlier, the principle of one-hand operation via a controller was already evident in the Z9 study.

Technology leadership with iDrive

At that time, BMW was the technology leader, despite initial confusion in the menu structure, iDrive became fast the benchmark for the operation of increasingly complex applications in modern cars. A few model generations later, the BMW sevens tried the next serve with gesture control, but the virtual manual control couldn't really establish itself.

Cooperation with Microsoft

Drivers of a company car who are often on the road in the field will appreciate the cooperation between BMW and Microsoft. The connection to Office 365, which can be updated online just like the BMW Intelligent Personal Assistant, makes Skype for Business available. On a trip, the stop at a rest stop can be used for an urgent video conference, while the voice output reads out incoming emails while driving.

From March 2019, BMW will have the first cars in Europe as well as in Brazil and Japan and ship to the US with a basic version of the personal assistant. China will follow in May 2019. The upcoming new models Z4, X5 and Eighth, provided they are equipped with the Connected Package Professional, can get a full version installed online. It should be possible to order the new BMW three-seater with the Intelligent Personal Assistant from November 2018.