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Kia accelerates in innovation with its new OTA update. Streaming and conversational AI come onboard.

Kia accelerates in innovation with its new OTA update: conversational AI comes onboard

This week, Kia unveiled a major update to its connected vehicles, marking a new step in its innovation strategy. Thanks to the OTA version RU 24.2, drivers of the EV3 model discover a voice assistant driven by generative artificial intelligence, capable of understanding and responding in natural language. A breakthrough that transforms interaction with the vehicle, making voice commands more fluid, intuitive, and conversational.

This new AI assistant is not limited to managing the climate control or volume. It also offers optimized navigation, allows planning routes based on the desired charge level upon arrival, and integrates directly with the entertainment interface, facilitating content searches. For Pablo Martínez Masip, Vice President of Product & Marketing at Kia Europe, this update demonstrates that a connected vehicle can continue to evolve long after purchase, through regular software improvements.

In addition, Kia introduces an onboard Wi-Fi hotspot (optional) and an enriched entertainment pack, including Netflix, Disney+, games, or a karaoke app. A new YouTube map even allows access to the platform directly from the vehicle’s screen. These features aim to turn the cabin into a true multimedia space. Of course, they are only available when the vehicle is stationary.

The update also applies to the EV6, EV9, and Sorento models (from the 2022 model year), with simplified voice commands, improved contextual recognition, and navigation alerts based on TomTom data. A free one-year trial, including two OTA updates, is offered to all new customers before moving to a subscription via the Kia Connect Store.

With this evolution, Kia confirms that the automotive war is now being fought inside the cabin.

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