Tencent Holdings, the Chinese tech giant, is making a big push to become a major player in the future of smart mobility. Its weapon of choice? A powerful artificial intelligence (AI) system that promises to revolutionize everything from in-car experiences to the way electric vehicles (EVs) are manufactured in China, the world’s largest EV market.
This week, at Beijing car show, Tencent unveiled its comprehensive smart mobility solution powered by its proprietary Hunyuan large language model (LLM). LLMs are the cutting-edge technology behind generative AI services like ChatGPT, and Tencent believes theirs can be a game-changer for the automotive industry.
“We have been working closely with industry partners to explore the potential of cutting-edge technologies like AI and LLMs,” said Dowson Tong, senior executive vice president of Tencent and CEO of the company’s Cloud and Smart Industries Group, in his keynote speech.
The benefits, according to Tencent, go far beyond simply entertaining passengers on long drives. The company’s vision includes a complete AI-powered ecosystem that streamlines the entire automotive experience.
“We’ve seen significant progress with AI models in the smart cockpit,” said Zhong Xuedan, vice president of Tencent Intelligent Mobility. “But the potential applications go way beyond in-car entertainment.“
Imagine an AI system that supports research and development, optimizes factory production lines, tailors marketing campaigns, and even improves customer service interactions. That’s the ambitious future Tencent envisions, with Hunyuan LLM at its core.
At the Beijing event, Tencent showcased their vision for a smart car cockpit that seamlessly integrates with their popular app ecosystem, including WeChat, Tencent Video, and even gaming apps. This fits perfectly with the growing demand for in-car connectivity. According to consulting firm IHS Markit, more than 48% of new vehicles sold in China from 2021 will already have some form of smart cockpit configuration. That figure is expected to rise to 75% by 2025.
Tencent isn’t starting from scratch. They’ve already partnered with over 100 major players in the auto industry, including international giants like Mercedes-Benz and Toyota Motor, as well as leading Chinese automakers like Guangzhou Automobile Group and Changan Automobile. By the end of 2024, Tencent expects its smart mobility solution to be embedded in more than 15 million cars.
This move by Tencent marks a significant development in China’s booming EV market. With competition fierce and autonomous driving technology still in its infancy, Tencent’s AI-powered smart mobility system has the potential to disrupt the industry and redefine the future of transportation in China.