Hyundai affiliate 42dot unveils in-car AI agent for natural conversation

· UPI

May 21 (Asia Today) -- 42dot, the global software center of Hyundai Motor Group, unveiled a new in-vehicle voice AI agent called "Gleo AI" on Wednesday, as the South Korean automaker accelerates its software-defined vehicle, or SDV, strategy.

The company said Gleo AI, built on large language model, or LLM, technology, enables drivers and passengers to hold more natural conversations with their vehicles while directly controlling in-car functions through voice commands.

The technology was first applied to the "The New Grandeur" sedan sold by Hyundai Motor Company.

Unlike conventional voice assistants that rely on fixed commands, Gleo AI is designed to understand conversational context, driving conditions and even the location of the speaker inside the vehicle. The system then selects and combines appropriate AI agents to execute commands and generate natural responses.

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Drivers can use voice commands to set navigation destinations, adjust climate controls, operate media functions and manage other vehicle features. The AI can also execute different functions depending on seat position and vehicle conditions.

42dot said the system uses multiple LLMs in stages to improve both flexibility and performance. Safety-critical vehicle controls are processed through on-device AI for lower latency and greater reliability, while more advanced computing tasks are handled through cloud-based systems.

The company also developed proprietary voice technologies optimized for driving environments, including LLM-based text-to-speech systems, speech preprocessing and multilingual speech recognition. The company said the technology maintains fast response times and natural conversation quality even while driving.

To improve safety and reliability, 42dot applied a self-developed "guardrail agent" designed to block dangerous or inappropriate requests before execution. Vehicle control functions also verify driving safety conditions before activating commands.

Industry analysts view in-vehicle AI agents as a key competitive factor in the future SDV market because the systems go beyond infotainment to connect vehicle controls with personalized services.

The announcement comes as Hyundai Motor Group integrates its autonomous driving, AI and SDV organizations under the leadership of 42dot CEO Park Min-woo.

42dot said it plans to continuously improve Gleo AI through over-the-air software updates, while expanding its proprietary LLM capabilities, strengthening on-device AI and advancing personalized recommendation features.

"Gleo AI is not simply a voice assistant, but a mobility companion that reduces the user's burden," Park said. "In the long term, it will evolve into a personalized AI that understands user behavior and preferences and provides assistance even before being asked."

-- Reported by Asia Today; translated by UPI

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Original Korean report: https://www.asiatoday.co.kr/kn/view.php?key=20260521010006201