Cerence Partners with Pioneer on Voice Interface

Cerence has partnered with Pioneer to provide natural, conversational speech recognition in Pioneer's NP1, a connected, integrated hardware and software device that will bring intuitive, personalized experiences to drivers in Japan.

Designed to serve as a conversational driving partner mounted on the windshield, NP1 is equipped with an integrated front/rear camera and microphone/speaker system. With Cerence voice recognition and natural language understanding, NP1 enables drivers to navigate to their destinations using voice and receive lane-by-lane directions spoken aloud.

"Today's consumer has a more digitally connected life than ever before, and they are looking for ways to bring that experience into the car," said Shiro Yahara, CEO and president of Pioneer, in a statement. "NP1 is all about enabling simple, powerful interaction that benefits drivers in their daily journeys. We are excited to further our work with Cerence and leverage their industry-leading technologies to make this possible."

"It's important that all drivers have the ability to benefit from innovation and advancements in AI and voice technology that will enhance their in-car experience," said Stefan Ortmanns, CEO of Cerence, in a statement. "We are proud to partner with Pioneer to bring natural, conversational speech recognition to drivers and enable a safer, more comfortable, and more productive experience while on the road."