SAN DIEGO — Qualcomm and Google have announced a strategic, multi-year collaboration aimed at transforming the automotive industry by leveraging generative AI to develop advanced digital cockpits and software-defined vehicles (SDVs). The two companies will combine Qualcomm’s Snapdragon Digital Chassis and Google’s in-vehicle technologies to create a standardized reference framework, offering a seamless, scalable solution for automakers looking to innovate with AI-powered, software-defined automotive experiences.

The partnership builds on years of collaboration and aims to provide automakers with the tools necessary to accelerate deployment cycles and introduce connected services utilizing Google Cloud. Qualcomm will lead the go-to-market efforts, collaborating with the broader automotive ecosystem to scale and customize the joint solution.

Nakul Duggal, Group General Manager of Automotive, Industrial, and Cloud at Qualcomm Technologies, emphasized the significance of this collaboration:
“Our partnership with Google marks a significant step in advancing the automotive industry’s digital transformation. By combining our Snapdragon Digital Chassis with Google’s advanced AI technologies, we’re enabling the creation of smarter, safer, and more immersive in-car experiences. Together, we’re empowering automakers to accelerate innovation and launch groundbreaking features faster.”

The collaboration will focus on developing generative AI-driven in-car solutions such as intuitive voice assistants, real-time map updates, and immersive experiences, all designed to anticipate driver needs. These AI capabilities will be powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon SoCs and AI Hub, which simplify the deployment of AI models for vision, audio, and speech applications within the vehicle cockpit.

Patrick Brady, VP of Engineering at Google, highlighted the transformative potential of AI in the automotive industry:
“Generative AI, combined with advancements in automated driving and software lifecycle management, is set to reshape the future of transportation. This collaboration with Qualcomm allows us to push the boundaries of what’s possible in software-defined vehicles, and demonstrates the power of co-innovation in driving forward the automotive industry.”

Key elements of the collaboration include:

• Generative AI-Enabled Digital Cockpit Development Framework: An upgradeable, automotive-grade platform designed to deliver advanced cockpit experiences that can be enhanced in real-time. The solution integrates Android Automotive OS (AAOS) software and services, offering customizable voice user interfaces and real-time driver updates powered by Google’s generative AI and Snapdragon’s edge optimizations.
• Unified SDV Car-to-Cloud Framework: A collaborative framework for SDV development that incorporates vehicle-to-cloud infrastructure using core technologies from both companies. The framework will streamline automotive software development on Google Cloud, optimized for Snapdragon platforms, boosting developer productivity and shortening time-to-market for AAOS platforms and services.

Additionally, the Snapdragon Connected Services Platform, running on Google Cloud, will enable a flexible, API-driven connected services model, ensuring a scalable and upgradable infrastructure for both onboard and offboard vehicle connectivity.

This collaboration underscores the power of combining Qualcomm’s edge AI capabilities with Google’s cloud-based technologies to create the next generation of software-defined vehicles, setting a new standard for innovation in the automotive sector.